» Disclaimer - I do not own Inuyasha

• Gather the Shards

Stare

• Chapter I •

Kagome glanced over her shoulder and rubbed the back of her neck. It felt like someone was staring at her. The feeling was biting. After sweeping her eyes over the room behind her she turned her gaze back to the lecture in front of her.

"…hard, but in terms of the actual physics involved in making…" Kagome tried to turn her focus back to the lesson. The teacher continued on, the sound of his voice and chalk hitting the board echoing though the classroom. "…opinions seem to disagree with…"

But the feeling was still there. It was difficult to keep herself from turning around again. Gripping her pencil she stiffly copied down notes but she couldn't concentrate. She could barely keep still.

She forced herself to copy the words on the board into her notebook. Pressing down so hard the lead in her mechanical pencil snapped. Kagome winced and shook the pencil drawing out more lead. A cough to her right caught her attention and she looked over at her friend's worried face.

"Kagome," Eri whispered as she leaned forward, "don't worry about the rankings I know you did fine, you are always placed in the top 30."

Kagome smiled at Eri and inwardly flinched at her friend's misunderstanding. But how was her friend to know that someone was staring a hole right through her. I had totally forgotten about the rankings. She shook her head at Eri and that seemed to be enough to get Eri to turn away and lean back.

Kagome inhaled to try and calm herself down.

The small classroom was suddenly starting to feel suffocating. Kagome couldn't resist looking at the window to her left. In the window's reflection she caught the gaze of Hojo. Her eyes widened and she snapped her head forward. Hojo was a nice guy. A really nice, emphasis on nice, guy. They were friends. But the feeling was a burning one. And for all the dates he asked her on, this feeling did not feel like it would come from someone like him. Would it?

The bell chimed cutting off Kagome's thoughts.

"And with that you have one hour of self-study," The teacher concluded. Students began to shuffle with their things and the sound of chairs dragging across the floor was all the prompting Kagome needed to get her things together. One glance at her classmates and she could tell that they were not planning to use this time wisely, seeing how just a few days ago they had their midterm.

Just as she placed her notebook in her bag Eri grabbed Kagome's arm in excitement.

"Kagome!" Eri started to drag Kagome along and motioned to Yuka to join them, "Oh we so have to talk!"

Yuka giggled trailing after them. But the only thing Kagome noticed was the fact that the feeling was gone now that she was in the hallway. She gave the classroom for a look before she turned to her friend.

And Eri all but shoved Kagome into the girls restroom.

Yuka crossed her arms and leaned against the sink as Eri leaned in close to Kagome's face. She was practically bouncing with joy.

"E-Eri?" Kagome stuttered, "What's this-"

"Oh my gosh!" Eri put her hands on Kagome's shoulders, "I saw that look you gave Hojo."

"Wha- look?!"

"Ah! I knew it!" Yuka interjected pulling Eri from Kagome, "You do like him! I just knew it!"

"Wait no-"

"I know when romance is in the air," Eri said with an air of superiority.

"And you guys make such a cute couple!" Yuka said with a dreamy sigh.

"I think you guys have the wrong idea."

"Nonsense, Kagome, I saw how he looked at you," Kagome turned from Eri with a sigh and stared at the mirror in front of her, letting the other girl talk, "You don't need to be so shy. We're in high school now! I can just tell by looking at him he likes you back! This is your chance!"

And the feeling of being watched was back.

"It'll be easier if we are there to help!" Yuka added, "We could invite him to join us to the arcade or something, and we can leave early so you guys can be alone."

"Or even better we could go on a triple date!"

Kagome's mind drowned out her friend's voices as she scanned the stalls behind her from the mirror. Nothing. Maybe she stayed up too late these past few nights studying and it was getting to her. And she had been eating fast food for dinner with her friends, and that just wasn't good for her body. Maybe she should try to eat healthier. All those fries and milkshakes with no sleep must be getting to her head.

She turned her gaze back at herself in the mirror and saw her reflection glaring back at her. Do I really look that angry? She brought her hand up to touch her face but her reflection didn't copy her. It gave a dark smile and laughed soundlessly.

"What the…" Her reflection reached for her and Kagome shuffled back.

"Uurrgghh! Kagome," Yuka grabbed Kagome by the shoulder, affectively getting her attention, "are you even listening?"

Kagome turned her head back to the mirror. Her reflection looked normal again. She looked at Yuka pointing to the mirror, "Did you see-"

"Geeze this is serious, tomorrow morning is prefect! We can even use the excuse of celebrating your rank." Eri nodded her head triumphantly, "I mean we already know you did well."

Are they still on that? Don't they notice how-how wrong everything feels?! Kagome had to hold back the urge to roll her eyes at them. She took a moment to think. Perhaps she was overthinking things. Seeing things that aren't there. Maybe…I really do need to eat better and get some sleep.

"You guys know Hojo is only a friend right?" Kagome insisted turning out of Yuka's grasp.

"Kagome," Yuka whined.

"Besides our class rankings are coming out tomorrow and I'm not as confident in my rank as you guys are. I mean the math portion was so hard. They didn't even teach us some of those formulas!"

Eri laughed, "You are just saying that. I mean you tutored me and if I think I did okay you had to have aced it!"

"I wish I could have joined you guys when you studied," Yuka said looking down, "It sucks having a part time job sometimes."

"Aw Yuka, here why don't we head back," Kagome said patting her friend on the back, while leading her to the door, "I've been wanting to ask you what you thought the answer for the one with the equation in degrees Fahrenheit and how it relates to uh, temperature C. Measured in Celsius. I wasn't sure of that one."

"Oh that one!" Eri exclaimed following after them.

Kagome inwardly cheered at the successful change in topic. She would be glad to be out of this room and away from that mirror.

Thankfully the day went by rather quickly. Kagome made sure to avoid even looking in Hojo's direction in fear of her friends starting up again. She turned down her friends' offer to go to WacDonalds in favor of her mother's home cooking.

Mostly because that feeling of being watched never went away.

Kagome sat with her grandfather in the living room, if he was surprised at her sticking to his side all night he sure didn't mention it.

"Are you sure you remember the legend by heart now?" He asked again.

"Yes, Grandpa," Kagome said absently petting her cat Buyo, "You're wasting your breath. I know all about the Shikon Jewel."

"Good good, because I need you this weekend. It's getting to be tourist season again."

"Yeah yeah." She waved her hand at him but she made no move to get up.

Buyo payed no mind to the tension she was feeling and pushed his head into Kagome's hand. That made Kagome look down and smile. She then looked over her shoulder again. She had been doing that all night. She wanted to tell her grandfather about this, he would understand. With all the legends he went on and on about for the shrine, he might know what to do.

But tell him what. That she had a feeling she was being watched? That she was seeing things? Aaahh! I thought the feeling would go away when I got home!

"Sis! The bath is open!"

"Thanks!" Kagome called back. She hesitated for a moment giving her grandfather another look before standing up. She smoothed out the wrinkles of her school uniform she still hadn't changed out of and walked towards the bathroom.

She stopped before she even entered the hallway, and spoke without turning around "Hey, Grandpa…"

"Hmm?"

"Do you think, that uh, you could put an ofuda on my door tonight?"

She didn't even have to turn around to know the look he was giving her. It had been a long time since he's had to do that for her. Not since she was small enough to be afraid of the legends he told her.

"Of course." He replied slowly and she was just thankful he didn't ask any questions. This was probably all just in her head. A good night's rest would do her good.

"Thanks."

He stared after her, and couldn't help but wonder what demon had his usually fearless granddaughter so afraid.

Buyo followed after her down towards the bath and hissed as Kagome opened the door.

"I know you don't like water but geeze you don't have to throw a fit." She muttered as Buyo scurried off.

She placed her towel to the side and locked the door behind her. Ahh, this is what she needed, a nice bath to calm herself down.

She grabbed the rim of the tub and slid her sock down her leg. Her eyes caught a movement in the water.

A hand slowly reaching for her from the water. She tried to jump back but her loose sock tangled her feet and she fell back with a thud just barley keeping from hitting her head. She could only manage to let out a short yelp and scrambled back until her back hit the locked door.

"Aurgh," Burning. Her hip suddenly felt like it was on fire. She clutched her side in pain and used the door behind her as leverage to quickly get up.

"Please, listen to me." A voice said to her right. Kagome turned to see a woman with the same face as her in the bathroom mirror looking down at her.

Kagome's eyes widened and her mouth fell open. The burning feeling in her hip intensified.

"I need your help," The woman in the mirror placed her hands on the mirror leaning forward. A centipede curled down her forearm, "pleas—"

That was all Kagome saw before she blacked out.

Kagome walked to school the next day more exhausted then she could remember. I can't believe I fainted. That's so not like me. Her mother had heard her fall in the bathroom and ran to help her out. So she wasn't out for long. But still. I keep seeing things…hearing things even! What's going on with me?!

And that feeling of being watched was still as strong as ever.

At least that burning in my hip is gone. That was the most painful thing. Kagome turned to her right looking into the shop window, seeing her reflection show her worn out appearance. She raised a hand to touch the dark circles under her eyes and didn't blink as her reflection changed. To the same woman with the same face as her she saw in her bathroom. Kagome had been avoiding her reflection since what happened last night for this very reason.

"Please, listen girl," The woman pleaded. "I need your help."

Kagome gave her a hard stare. Was she being haunted? Was this like an ancestor or something?

Making sure there was a good distance between herself and the shop window she answered, "Okay, I'm listening."

"My name is Midoriko," The image said, "And you are also Midoriko."

"Hah?"

"You are the only one who can help this Midoriko."

"Midoriko…you mean like from the legend? The legend of the Shikon Jewel?" Kagome thought back to the story she was told just that night.

"Ah, so you know of the jewel. Yes the very same Midoriko." Midoriko paused a moment, "I need your help. This is something only someone who shares my soul can do."

"And what do I need to do then?" Kagome crossed her arms wanting to get to the point.

"Well tell me, what does this realm say of the legend?"

Kagome thought a moment while staring into Midoriko's eyes. It was a little unnerving how the woman had the same face and voice as her, "Well, from what I remember the Priestess Midoriko fought a great demon and fused their souls together ending the fight. And that the jewel can grant any wish."

"That's it?"

"Yeah that's basically it."

Midoriko face, or her reflections face, turned dark. "I guess across realms one shouldn't assume that the whole story would be preserved."

"So…there's more to it?"

"Yes, you see Midoriko's soul shattered the jewel as soon as it was made. Keeping m-the demon from breaking out."

"And you need me too…?"

"I need you to collect these shards. I am but a spirit and I am unable to. But with my power restored I wish to collect and make the jewel whole again so I may banish that demon once and for all."

A passerby bump into Kagome's shoulder before she could respond and she turned to apologize for standing in the way. Until she saw the stares people were giving her. She was just talking to a woman in a shop window.

"Midoriko?" Looking back at her reflection it was normal. No Midoriko or anything was there. Was she seriously just talking to herself while standing in the middle of the sidewalk? I really am going crazy aren't I?

Kagome hid her red face behind her bag and fled.

Her school was thankfully close to her house so she didn't have far too go. She did have to squeeze in between Hojo and that freshman girl Ayumi who were blocking the classroom door. That was the only obstacle she faced. The whole day felt like a blur.

She couldn't get over what Midoriko had said. Was it real? She could still feel that piercing feeling of being watched. Kagome leaned down resting her chin on her arms. Getting as comfortable as she could in the small desk.

"Kagome?" Eri asked as she squatted before Kagome's desk so she was eye level, "I saw what happened…"

This caught Kagome by surprise, "You did?"

"Yeah," She placed her hand on Kagome's arm as if to console her, "Yuka did too. It's probably nothing you shouldn't worry about."

"You think so?"

"Yeah that girl is only a freshman and Hojo always had his eyes only on you. You are like one of the prettiest girls I know, there's no need for you to feel jealous."

Kagome's face fell. They clearly were not on the same page. Her wonderful friend was trying to console her and she tried to feel grateful.

"Aw Kagome don't look at me like that!" Eri leaned up and pulled Kagome into a hug, "How about we go for ice cream after school! My treat!"

"Oh Eri," Kagome tried, "It's not that."

"Then what is it?" She leaned back to look Kagome in the eyes.

She needed to come out and tell her friends. Kagome knew that. She should probably tell her grandfather and mother too. She was just hoping that this would all just go away, "Eri," Kagome looked around the full classroom that was on lunch break and could see some of them watching their conversation, "uh I'll tell you guys after school. I'm always up for ice cream. Though I'll pay for myself."

"Okay, you better!" Eri commanded and then she turned around and gave Yuka a signal that Kagome couldn't interpret. She felt a little left out.

The rest of the school day went without incident. Kagome rehearsed what she was going to tell her friends in her head. She didn't want to sound too crazy. I think something is haunting me in mirrors. I live in a shrine so haunted things are everywhere. That's not too surprising. Was she trying to convince them or herself?

Her friends announced that they would arrive at the ice cream shop separately and Kagome wasn't too surprised because they were on cleaning duty this week. But they had insisted that Kagome go on ahead without them.

So she sat in a booth by herself, waiting for her friends. She reached down to her bag to pull out her notes from class trying to at least spend this time alone productively.

"Higurashi!" Kagome turned around in her seat to see Hojo jog up to her. A smile on his face.

"Hojo?" She greeted back rather surprised.

"I'm glad I caught up with you. Eri and Yuka told me that you would be here."

"They told you that?" Kagome could sense where this was going. Why were her friends so keen on her getting a boyfriend anyway? This was supposed to be a serious conversation they were going to have!

"They did," He nodded, "But since I'm here why don't we have some ice cream and talk. I see you have your notes from today-"

"Hojo we've talked about this you know I don't-." Kagome tried interrupting him before he went any further.

"Please Higurashi just think about-."

"Oh!" Kagome pulled her phone out and stared at the blank screen, "Mama just texted me. She needs me to pick up some groceries on my way home. We're having Udon. It was nice chatting with you, bye!" And she collected her things and ran past him before he had a chance stop her.

"Hirurashi wait!" Couldn't he even use her name? He used everyone else's names. But she just wanted to be friends. Why couldn't anyone see that? She knew Eri and Yuka meant well but sometimes those friends of hers made her want to scream!

She darted into the first shop on her left and hid. She leaned forward trying to catch her breath. Man I really needed to work out more.

She looked around the antique shop she just walked into and sighed. Today was a total bust. Hopefully her grandpa would be up to listening. For all the legends he talked about maybe he be willing to at least listen.

"Girl."

Kagome half screamed as she jumped up straight. Adrenaline shooting straight up her spine. There in a large old dusty mirror off in a corner was that woman with her face. Midoriko.

"Quiet. Please."

"So you are real?" Kagome asked walking towards the mirror. As she approached her hip started to get that burning sensation again. What the?

"Of course I am. I don't want others to know I'm around. This is a duty for you alone." Midoriko said rather bluntly.

"I'm not sure what you want me to do exactly," Kagome rubbed her hip as she walked towards the mirror.

"Just gather the shards." Kagome glared at the mirror. She said it like it was so easy, "Do you accept?"

"But how do I do that exactly?" Kagome could feel that burning in her hip with the same intensity of last night. It felt like danger. She shouldn't do this.

"You have the same soul as this Midoriko, you are able to easily sense the shards. They call for you."

Kagome shook her head. "No, I don't think-"

Midoriko's face grew dark. She opened her mouth wide and a centipede crawled up circling her neck entering her mouth.

Kagome only had time to make a small sound of disgust as Midoriko's mouth opened further then was humanly possible revealing sharp fangs. She leaned forward through the mirror reaching for Kagome with her six arms.

Kagome turned to run. Midoriko's arms grabbed her around the neck and waist. Kagome tried to scream and dropped her bag in the struggle as she was dragged into the mirror.