A/N: Hi all. Well, I'm a school, in a somewhat secluded corner, and I'm updating, Whoo hoo, aren't you all so happy? *insert sarcasm* I am having a baaaad day. First, the weather was supposed to be snowy. Majorly snowy. Like, 8 inches snowy. We barely got two. I stayed up late, had to get up early, am wiped and in pain.

But, I am still here to provide you all with some sad, dark and angsty story.stuff. And yet again, my muse has changed. I apparently drove Robin to insanity.so they sent me Adrian. She's tougher.

Oh, and BULL SHIT: That is extremely offensive. You don't just walk around calling people niggers. It's rude, politically incorrect and just plain mean. And, no, I am not African-American, and if I was I would be even more upset at you. If you do not like the fic, don't read it, and don't review it. Simple as that.

*Pats Adrian on head* My muse is being kind, even if my schedule isn't. *Is knocked out by a mad Adrian.* Just read the fic.

Disclaimer: No, bluefuzzyelf does not own Inuyasha. She wishes she did, but she does not. She-*is cut off by Adrian* you do realize you're talking to your self in the third person, right? *blank look* Oh god. Anyway, she doesn't own anything.

Previously, on Reflection: "Not anymore. He won't ever hurt you again. I'm here, and I'm never letting him get his hands on you again."

"Thank you Inuyasha. You don't know.how much this means to me." You will never know

"I will always be here, Kagome. Always."

Reflection

Chapter Two

Brothers

Kagome had fallen asleep in Inuyasha's lap. He had heard, mostly from her, about how people's faces were supposed to look like all their problems had disappeared when they slept. Lies. He looked down at Kagome, noting the deathly pallor of her skin, the red and puffy eyes that mixed with the yellow circles under them. Her cheeks were splotchy, and her eyebrows were knotted tightly together.

But she was still the most beautiful creature he had ever set eyes on. He was still angry, furious actually, but had shut that away, stamping on it, until he needed it. And he was going to need it. The bastard that had done this to her wasn't getting away.

Kagome woke slowly, clinging desperately to sleep. She was afraid. She didn't want to wake up. She wanted to stay where reality faded away and she was left with the dark.

But that wasn't going to happen. She snuggled further into her bed, wondering why it felt a little lumpy. Her eyes shot open as she recalled what had happened before she fell asleep. Her stormy-grey eyes faced bright red cloth. She blinked and bolted upright.

Inuyasha 'oofed' as Kagome jolted up. He looked down at her, almost smiling. The amusement disappeared as he remembered why she had been on his lap in the first place.

Kagome felt something slide off her and she looked down. Inuyasha's haori was lying on the mossy ground, pooled around her legs. She looked up into warm amber, bright with amusement, yet dark with something nameless.

"Morning."

Kagome gasped. "How long have I been asleep?!?"

"About two hours. It's not actually morning."

"Oh. Don't scare me like that."

Tense silence filled the air. Neither one knew what to do.

"Inuyasha?"

"Yeah?"

Whatever she had been about to say was never revealed as she tensed once more.

"A Shikon no Kakera. Coming this way." She squinted, "Two of them. Kouga." Kagome's every muscle was tense. Inuyasha stood and put his haori on her shoulders again to preserve her modesty, as she was still clad only in her bra.

Kouga appeared in a whirlwind of dust right in front of Kagome. She flinched. Inuyasha stood protectively next to her, a hand on her shoulder.

Kouga grinned and knelt in front of Kagome.

"Hello Kagome. I smelled you and decided to visit. How are you? Still with Inu-korro over there?" Kouga reached for her hands and was confused as she flinched and pulled away.

"Don't touch her."

Kouga looked up at the hanyou and growled, "Don't tell me what I can or cannot do with my woman!" Kagome shied away even further, leaning into Inuyasha's legs.

Kouga frowned. "What's wrong with her?"

"I was wondering when you'd notice."

Kouga growled warningly at Inuyasha. Cerulean eyes turned back to Kagome and narrowed. The haori she was wearing had slipped a little, and he could see bruises on her neck. Like someone had tried to strangle her. Snarling, Kouga turned back to Inuyasha. He knew, no matter how stupid he was, that Inuyasha would never hurt Kagome.

"Who did this?!?" He demanded, looking straight into the prince's eyes. Kagome bit her lip. She whimpered softly, which had both males' attention immediately.

"It's okay, Kagome." Inuyasha knelt beside her and slipped an arm around her shoulder. Kouga raised an eyebrow, never having seen Inuyasha that affectionate towards his woman, but let it go and gently took her hand.

"Kagome, what happened to you?" Kouga's voice was low and soft. Grey met bright blue and tears began to fall down her cheeks.

"Something terrible"

Inuyasha stood and picked her up, Kouga stood as well, and the trio began the trek back to Kaede's.

When Kagome had been sufficiently bandaged and clothed, Kouga, Miroku, Sango and Kaede looked to Inuyasha for an explanation. He jerked his head towards the door, motioning them outside.

Once gathered there, Inuyasha sighed and looked at them, obviously hurting.

"Kagome's being abused." Gasps came from Miroku and Sango, the only two who hadn't seen evidence themselves. "She-she told me a while ago. I found her by the hot springs, covered in wounds. She said it was a man who was courting her mother."

Kouga was growling, Miroku was gripping his staff so tightly his knuckles were white, and Sango had a firm grip on her hiraikotsu. Kaede stood there with tears in her eyes, remembering the damage done to Kagome's body.

"Where is this bastard?" Kouga ground out, his hackles raising.

"In her time."

"Get me through."

"Iie."

"Nani? Inu-korro, you get me through, now!!"

"Iie. Sit down." For that brief moment, Inuyasha seemed like the prince he actually was. Kouga could not argue with one who had Inutaisho's blood flowing through his veins.

He settled back down, still steaming.

"But something has to be done!" Sango said. Miroku laid a hand on her shoulder; she shrugged it off.

"It's wrong! He shouldn't be able to do that! We have to help her! He deserves to die!"

"Sango, the fires of revenge burn as brightly in all of us as they do in you, but we can't just go there and kill the man." Miroku spoke with his usual calm, his face a mask.

"How can you stand there and say that?!?"

"He's right." Inuyasha's voice, quiet as it was, carried. Sango balled her fists at her sides and worked at calming herself down.

"Ye are forgetting to ask Kagome. What does she want?" Kaede spoke up, looking at each of the others grouped outside the hut, before returning to care for Kagome.

Inuyasha sat in the Goshinboku, thinking. He really wanted to go back to Kagome's time and kill that man for hurting his Kagome, but he couldn't. Kagome would hate him. And he would hate himself. The man was in no way innocent, but Inuyasha did not want the blood of humans on his hands.

Kouga approached the tree. "Inuyasha!" He called up, startling Inuyasha, not only because he hadn't expected anyone to bother him, but also because Kouga had used his name.

"Hai."

"Get down here." Inuyasha scowled, but heard the steel in the wolf's voice and jumped down, landing gracefully on the ground. Kouga looked at him. Cerulean bored into gold. "Let's call a truce. Kagome's hurt and she needs our help. We cannot help her if we are always at odds. Brothers?" Inuyasha looked at Kouga's extended hand, then took it.

"Brothers.

A/N: Sorry it took so long to get out, my beta was editing and we had some technical difficulties

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