And so the plot finally begins. Don't worry, there will be more to the story than just soul-searching and remembering the past. After all, she will find Kohaku some day soon… right?

All you recognize is not mine. Save for the plot.

X X X

Mirrored Fates

X X X X

The first village they entered was pretty peaceful.

Kagome entered on foot, Shippo and Kirara on each of her shoulders. It didn't take her long to realize that they really did draw attention, even without her clothes, but Shippo was the first to point out and understand why it was. The villagers believed her to be a real miko and Shippo and Kirara to be her servants, tamed youkai that helped her in her work.

"Domo arigato, miko-sama." An old man whose load she helped carry to his cottage said to her. Kagome-sama she could handle, but being called "miko-sama" was very confusing and slightly frightening, like the day the villagers had first realized she was Kikyo reincarnated and almost worshipped her. That seemed an eternity away…

…but it became all too real when some family asked her to take a look at their sick child, which she naturally couldn't refuse. Fortunate was the day she decided to learn something from Kaede, especially about herbs! And fortunately, the disease wasn't anything more serious than a high fever, so she was able to deal with it easily, though she felt a slight giggle tie in her throat that they thought that a mischievous tanuki might be doing such a thing, as a meeting place of such demons was near the village.

The villagers continued to look with slight bewilderment at the "traveling miko-sama" and her "youkai servants". But Shippo had been right. Had she been wearing her own clothing, they wouldn't be staring with awe, but with fear and resentment. And when there was no one around to protect her – though she didn't say it out lout, lest she hurt Shippo´s pride – she tried her best to blend in with the surroundings.

Not that she was doing too good a job when she screamed her lungs out when she discovered a caterpillar crawling over the herb she intended to pick.

She had kept her shoes – that was the only thing that didn't match her clothing. After so many months of trekking the country in them, she couldn't imagine fighting in sandals. Overall, she had worn clothes such as she was wearing now only a few times, quite countable on her fingers, but they weren't uncomfortable or restricting, compared to the clothes she saw most of the girls and women around her wearing. However, she felt more out of place than she had before, in her own clothing.

This was the first time she had ever ventured out shard-hunting without the aid of her friends.

By the time they left the third village, the voice in Kagome´s head telling her that this was a lost cause got stronger and she felt a blush of embarrassment for a moment before Shippo asked her what was wrong and she mumbled an apology. After all, it was hardly likely for Kohaku to be wandering through human villages when he knew his life was endangered – he didn't want others getting hurt, just like her.

After village number five, as she dubbed it in her mind, for they all appeared alike to her, Kagome decided to give Kirara a longer rest and she sat down in one of the many fields near the settlements, giving the two little demons with her something to eat while she nibbled on her own lunch.

Well, this was one way to discover that one's plan was a complete failure.

"Ne, Kagome?" Shippo began, finishing a bit of chocolate. Candy had been the kit's addiction ever since Kagome had gotten the now regretted idea of bringing him the first bit of chocolate. "Do you really want to return to the others tonight?"

"Camping out in the wild on our own isn't very smart." I wish Inuyasha would have just understood why this has to be done, Kagome thought. "Besides, I don't want them worried that much…" And I don't want Inuyasha more upset than necessary.

The fox kit nodded gravely. "Inuyasha is a stubborn fool when it comes to you, but he wouldn't be too wrong about that." Somehow, Shippo managed to look very Miroku-like when saying that, though in the rational and serious way, not the womanizing way. "But I think it was a good idea in the end."

Kagome glanced at Kirara, who was watching the wind blow through the grass. The miko was willing to bet that she missed Sango already, but didn't show it in any way. And somehow, she felt guilty again. Sango would have understood, though she perhaps wouldn't have approved of it. But still, she thought hotly, it had to be done. It was the best course of action and, who knows? Perhaps she could actually manage to convince Kohaku that he was better off with his sister at his side.

Dimly, she recalled that she had a brother of her own back in her modern world and though he annoyed her no end at times, she would never allow him to take such a risky journey without her. But Souta wasn't Kohaku. Fortunately.

"Ne, Kirara… if you want to go back to Sango and the others, feel free." Too bad she sounded firmer than she truly felt.

"But why, Kagome?" Shippo piped up. "It'll be dark soon and it wouldn't be wise to venture back to the others on foot."

"That's just it, Shippo-chan. I don't think I'll be coming back tonight. But you can go too, if you want…" she knew it was useless the moment she began speaking, because the kit jumped into her lap and poked her stomach with his little finger reproachfully.

"No way. I'm staying with you."

A smile crossed Kagome´s features, forgetting the situation for a moment. Really, she was too used to traveling with Shippo. She couldn't go alone. She wasn't Kikyo.

Kikyo.

Kikyo the soulless, cold miko that traveled the wilderness on her own, in silence, only the Shinidamachū faithfully gliding alongside her, providing her body of clay with the necessary nourishment.

Kikyo who gave her life so that they might journey on. Kikyo who would live on through her, whether she liked it or not.

Suddenly, she didn't feel like eating anymore.

"Pardon me, miko-sama."

She had zoned out for so long that she hadn't even realized that the sun had set and the farmers were returning to their homes. A group of young women, all around her age or a few years older, stood nearby, farming and gardening tools in their hands, hair bound, dresses simple, looking at her. They must have assumed she was attempting to meditate or something, judging by the respectful voice the one that had approached her assumed. Inwardly, the embarrassed part of her was glad because of that.

"My name is Nagisa," the one that appeared oldest said, "miko-sama, and these are Risa, Tamayo and Hatsu. We were only wondering if you had a place to stay tonight."

Now Kagome was really startled, but clearly not as startled as the girl that had noticed her youkai companions. "Eh?" was her quote of a day. And then, as if a bulb had been plugged… "Ah, no, no, I don't."

"Well, you shouldn't stay here outside during the night! Come with us, please, our mother will be most glad to have you for the night." Nagisa said with a note of insisting, though it didn't seem that she had any kind of ulterior motive, Shippo mused.

Yes, the kitsune decided. "I think we should come, Kagome."

The rest of the women noticed Kirara, who meowed when Shippo asked what she thought, but surprisingly, not all of them were that afraid. After all, both demons appeared small and relatively harmless. Before Kagome could even think of an answer, Shippo swallowed what bit of food he had left. And even she had to realize he had a point. Follow her lead you might, but you aren't Kikyo, she reminded herself. She didn't want to become Kikyo. Not that it was possible, anyway. And she realized that, contrary to what she might think, while Kikyo had traveled alone, she had been far from defenseless and had certainly been more capable than she in the defense department.

"Arigato." She said, rising to her feet and gathering the bag Shippo had already managed to pack.

The journey to the village wasn't long, her companions (the human ones, anyway) chattered all the way, but seemed to keep a respectful distance from her, as if not to bother her with their trivial questions. Kagome sighed inwardly. If everyone was going to be worshipping her like this like some kami-sama, there was no way she was ever going to make any progress.

The next day, after a very comfortable stay in the village, she bid the kind family farewell and progressed further on foot. Kirara got some rest, Shippo didn't get nauseous anymore and she herself enjoyed a nice walk. Wonderful.

But even in the wild, there wasn't any sight of demons, let alone rogue demon slayers. Kagome, however, considered this trip a good idea, if only because she began to understand just how much she cared about the friends she had left behind. She missed Sango, with whom she could talk about anything and everything, even Miroku with the two sides of his personality – the seasoned monk con artist and the experienced lecher – and… she even missed the possible fit of rage Inuyasha might have once she would return. Scratch that. There would be one hell of a fight after she would return, but she found herself caring very little.

It had been long since she had used the enchanted rosary around his neck and she had refrained from doing so in honor of his mourning, but she was ready to use it if he dared blame her for attempting to save a life.

"I wonder what kept Kikyo busy in the months when we didn't see her." Shippo said out loud from her left shoulder. "This traveling gets old eventually."

Kikyo. Kikyo traveling. Kikyo the miko. Kikyo her past self. Kagome squeezed her eyes shut. She had to get out the mental image that she was becoming a hybrid of Kikyo simply because she had chosen to follow her advice and travel alone in search of Kohaku.

"Being a miko is a responsibility, Shippo-chan." Kagome said, smiling when he gave her a quizzical look. It gave her a reason to forget the previous thoughts. "You have to help people – I bet normal miko don't spend their lives chasing after the fragments of a sacred jewel like I do. It might actually be a pretty quiet life."

"Yeah, like Kaede-bachan does, right? Helping sick people, exorcising mischievous demons…" the kitsune sighed. He ran out of things to list. But somehow, he couldn't imagine Kagome in a shrine, tending to wounded soldiers. She was too… action-oriented for that. She tried, but she wasn't a healer – it wasn't a natural ability. More like a learned skill.

"Kagome?"

"Yes, Shippo-chan?"

"What will you do when we finally beat Naraku?"

"We're far from doing that right now, Shippo-chan. You know we've been trying for very long…"

"Yes, but when," If… it echoed in both their minds. "We do, what will you then?"

Silence.

"I…"

"I thought you might help Kaede-bachan with the shrine in her village. I'm sure she would be glad to have you, Kagome."

Fortunately, the cries of children from the village they managed to reach spared Kagome the need to answer that difficult, difficult question. She wasn't ready to answer. But what she was truly unprepared for was the cry from some of the children that noticed her. There was no doubt about what they cried, all of them, save one girl, who stared at her with wide eyes, with unhidden glee and happiness as they rushed towards her.

"KIKYO-SAMA! KIKYO-SAMA HAS RETURNED!"

And before she could understand that, she was hugged from all sides.

X X X

Inuyasha was angry.

No, make that really, really pissed off.

Certainly, Kagome had moments of undeniable stupidity and downright foolishness. Like when she defended that idiot wolf. Or when she wanted to return to her world and postpone their shard-hunting because of her spellbooks and "tests". And certainly whenever she screamed her head off when speaking the dreaded word that made him eat dirt due to the damned rosary he couldn't take off. What was with that, anyway?

Now, however, it was different. At those times, he had a means of reaching her and yelling at her, making her realize her mistake. But right now, even her scent was impossible to catch, as it had rained hours after they had come to Kaede´s village… and it was already the next day.

Stupid girl!

Hadn't she promised to return the next day?

And why was everyone else being so calm about it, damn it all!

He was currently sitting on his favorite branch of a particular tree, albeit restlessly, staring into the sky in a vain attempt to catch sight of a familiar flamed tail that would bring those two idiots, Shippo and Kagome, back safely. As long as Kirara was with them, they had some chance of survival, but he still didn't get Kagome´s idea about leaving them.

So Sango´s brother had the last shard. Big deal – Naraku would be long dead before he would touch him. Besides, he remembered something that had probably escaped Kagome´s genius plan and observations. Kohaku would be fine, because last time he checked, the kid had been traveling with his not-so-wonderful bastard of a half-brother. And Sesshomaru had probably also realized that Naraku would come for the last bit of the jewel, which was why he hadn't killed the kid on sight.

After all, Inuyasha huffed inwardly, the kid would have died before ever setting sights on Sesshomaru if he wasn't of importance. He had tried to kill that little girl Sesshomaru kept around for some reason – and his brother certainly knew how to hold a grudge when he put his mind to it.

Not that it wasn't mutual, mind you.

A low growl found its way out of the inu-hanyou´s throat at the thought of his brother. Never mind him now, however, his current problem was that foolhardy wench, Kagome, who had decided to play the hero.

Again.

And he wouldn't lose her the way he had lost Kikyo.

When Kaede-baba had said that Kagome had borrowed the clothes of a miko, he didn't understand it very well. But then he realized that she had done so because of Kikyo – and it kept bugging him ever since. Had Kikyo said something to Kagome? Something of significance?

But when that white ghostly demon, Kanna, had told her her last words, Kagome had told them all. So why hadn't she shared all the information she had?

Kagome had always disapproved of Kikyo. And now, she had made herself into a replica-image of her past incarnation.

Damnit, this was too confusing.

Dimly, beneath his rage, Inuyasha really hoped that nothing had happened to Kagome. She was too stubborn to die, he said often, but knew that if assaulted by a pack of stronger yokai, she probably wouldn't end up victorious.

It was very frustrating not to be able to do anything about it.

Damn it, wench, if you get hurt, I'll rip Shippo´s head off for letting you go without me.

X X X

"Kikyo-sama, Kikyo-sama, are these herbs good for wounds? I wanted to ask you before, but…"

"Why did you leave us, Kikyo-sama? Didn't you like it here?"

"Kikyo-sama, you will stay this time, won't you?"

The children chanted questions while circling her, reminding Kagome of her friends from back home when they demanded to know who she was dating at the moment. But the words "Kikyo-sama" were stirring something in her… something she didn't like.

You look really stupid there, Kikyo.

"I'm not Kikyo!" she cried, the calm exterior that made her look like the dead priestess vanishing in a purely Kagome moment. The children stopped and looked at her in bewilderment. "My name is Kagome! Ka-go-me."

The slight commotion that it caused made the children back away a bit, almost afraid. But Kagome recovered, the golden eyes eying her with distaste and amusement at the same time vanishing from her mind.

"But you look just like Kikyo-sama…"

The girl who had appeared afraid of her had edged towards her while her attention was elsewhere and touched her hand with a timid fear. Kagome´s eyes shot towards her, but the girl in the yellow kimono suddenly relaxed.

And she appeared a bit relieved, though also… saddened. "The miko-sama is not Kikyo-sama. Her hands are warm. I'm Sayo." The little girl said to Kagome. "Do you… do you know Kikyo-sama?"

This girl was frightened, but not of her. Frightened of Kikyo… but also missing her. Kagome struggled inwardly to gain control over her little outburst. Of course, Kikyo had visited this village before…

"We knew Kikyo-sama." Shippo suddenly chimed in from her shoulder. Sayo gasped as she noticed the kitsune, who hopped down to the ground next to her, but smiled. "Kikyo-sama is at rest now."

And Sayo relaxed completely. Now Kagome understood. This girl had seen something that gave her a hint of the nature of Kikyo´s body. Perhaps she had seen the Shimidamachi… but she had cared for Kikyo, obviously.

"Gomen ne, Sayo." She crouched next to the little girl, who mustered the courage to pet Kirara, who gave a gentle meow. "People… people sometimes mistake me for Kikyo. I don't like it."

Sayo nodded. "You look just like her… Kagome-sama. But you don't sound like her."

"Are you Kikyo-sama´s nee-sama, Kagome-sama?" The villagers that had homes nearby had come to see what the commotion was about.

"I don't really like talking about Kikyo." Kagome muttered with an apology. She didn't want to think about the undead miko more than necessary.

And then the children began to demand her attention as well.

"Kagome-sama, you are a miko-sama as well, aren't you?"

"Come play with us, Kagome-sama!"

"We wanted to go gather flowers, could you show us some healing herbs?"

The children were also curious about Shippo and Kirara, circling them to look at them from every direction until Shippo "snapped" and showed off a little of his kitsune magic with his transformations, randomly changing into each of the children and then impersonating Kagome in her miko clothes.

She really did look like Kikyo when she dressed like this.

"Shippo, go play with the children a bit. You too, Kirara. I'll ask about Kohaku."

And the children were off, with Kagome´s promise that she would go see them soon. Some of the villagers had gathered and she approached house man that appeared to be the house of the headman of the village. She was graciously admitted inside – the headman was old, but appeared to be well-mannered. He offered her food and drink, which she gladly accepted, and then proceeded to inquire the obvious.

"So what brings you to our village, miko-sama?"

"I'm searching for a youkai taijiya."

A frown. "Last I heard, their village had been wiped out, hadn't it? Qualified taijiya are hard to find these days and after that massacre… I wish you luck with that. If any of them had survived, they had probably left the area. I heard it was a terrible thing, that."

"The taijiya I'm looking for won't be that difficult to recognize."

"Indeed?"

"It's a boy, about thirteen years old, wields a chain-sickle and wears black and green armor. He has a freckled face and looks very harmless."

"A child?" the headman would have laughed, but didn't want to be disrespectful. "Miko-sama, I doubt that any children had survived to tell the tale of that village."

"You don't understand. He had survived, but disappeared a few weeks ago. Have there been any unfamiliar demon attacks in the area recently?"

"Not that I know of, but then again, we lead a peaceful and secluded life. There isn't anything interesting about our village. Youkai have no reason to come here."

Kagome had suspected that might be answer, but the fact that Kikyo had been here had given her some hope. "If I may, could I stay here for the night and tomorrow, perhaps? I'd like to look around a bit, just in case."

"Of course, miko-sama. We would be most glad even if you would choose to stay here permanently, you know. Ever since Kikyo-sama vanished, we've not had the presence of a holy woman in our vicinity. Forgive me for mentioning it, but you really do look like her. Are you family?"

Momentarily silence. "Kikyo and I were very close." Once, they had been part of the same body. Once, their soul had belonged to only one. "Thank you for allowing me to stay here." Kagome bowed her head.

"It's no problem. My house is at your disposal, you will be welcome here as long as you wish." The headman smiled and stood up. The miko took it as a signal to stand up as well. "I hope your search goes well, miko-sama."

The village, bathed in the crimson light of the setting sun, was a wonderful sight. The day with the children was spent playing, searching for flowers, teaching them simple songs from her time. After all, what harm could that do?

How peaceful it was not to be assaulted by youkai at every turn, Shippo thought as he showed off more of his magic to the children. It was pleasant to have such an appreciative audience. The children cheered whenever he transformed and asked him to do people they wanted to see again. His tail always remained after transforming, true, but it was fun nonetheless.

Kagome watched all this with a smile.

After sundown, she escorted the cheerful little kids back to the village. Shippo was already falling asleep on her shoulder, having played the day away. The little kitsune was exhausted. And Kagome, though not weary, felt like having a good night's sleep as well.

But, looking back, there was nothing better to give you back your energy like being awaked with screams of "Youkai! Youkaaaii!" in the middle of the night.

At least that had not changed.