AN: I hope you enjoy the story. This is my first FanFiction and I'm a bit scared of posting it. So please be nice and tell me what you think of it.

I dont own InuYasha

CHAPTER 2 - Ceremony

Kagome woke up in a bathtub filled with hot water and herbs that tickled her nose. She was awake but her body refused to move at her command. Her body felt heavy and tiered as if she had been walking all day in the mountain. All she wanted was to fall back asleep in the warm soothing water. She had to fight with all her willpower to remain conscious. She could not see most of the room that surrounded her, but she could see that she was not alone in this predicament. Kikyo, her rival was lying next to her in her own bathtub looking angrily towards her. She knew exactly what was going on and was fighting tooth and nails to get out of there.

A familiar feeling creeped on her. And then she remembered that she was in the exact same situation when she met her counterpart. The day she met Kikyo she was in a tub with ointment and herb designed to push her soul out of her body and in Kikyo's to fully resurrect her.

Tsubaki and Naraku entered the room. At once the smell of his miasma filled the room, making the two miko sick in their stomach.

- Well, I'm happy you are both awake. He chuckled softly. Kikyo this is where you die. Unfortunately, I need one of you alive and complete. And since Kagome here poses less of a threat, I decided to end our little game. Kagome, thank you for bringing me the last shards, now the jewel is complete and ready for me to use as I see fit.

The dark miko Tsubaki was listening to the one-way conversation knowing that neither of them was able to answer the dark hanyo. Their body were paralysed but their mind was there. Deadly looks in their eyes, both women wishing to kill the one that kept them captive. Tsubaki could hear Kagome's friends outside her barrier. It would not last long especially with the new powers Inu Yasha acquired since her last encounter with the group. She coughed softly, asking the master of the castle to go take care of the intruders and let her work in peace. Naraku turned away, annoyed that he could not play with his toys a little longer. Before closing the door, he simply looked at the dark miko, a look that said everything he needed to say and so much more. Don't disappoint me or else…

Tsubaki started to recite the incantation, knowing that Kagome needed her soul to be complete to be corrupted or else the other part of her soul would try to purify the corruption instantly. Her words were filling the small room, her magic working its way into the body of the golem, swiping the remains of Kagome in the air.

Pain and frustration came across Kikyo's feature. Kagome could only watch her counterpart, unsure about how she felt. It was her soul that was returning to her, something that she landed so many years ago, something she hadn't missed much. She felt guilty and sad that it would mean death for the one lying next to her. In another world, less cruel perhaps, the two girls could have been friends. They had so much in common. And yet fate choose for them to be rivals. Cruel indeed, the end of the most powerful miko of the last century would be one witnessed by only two people. She deserved better and Kagome knew it. This was unfair. Mustering all of strength Kagome whispered softly.

- I'm sorry.

She knew she would not want her pity but those words were the only ones she found appropriate to say. Her soul hovered over her for a minute and tears ran down Kagome's cheeks. The ceremony was done and only Kagome was left breathing. She felt pain all over her body from the return of what was rightfully hers. She could not handle it for long, she felt herself faint, powerless.

Tsubaki held the completed jewel in her hand and set it down on a table, focusing her energy on it and on the bond Kagome shared with the crystal. She needed her to feel all the negative emotions her heart was holding in. Her selfishness, her envy, her fears, her anger, her loneliness, the darkness of her heart needed to be pushed to overpower Kagome, turning her into a dark miko.

Kagome found herself in one of her nightmares, surrounded by darkness and alone. She could hear voices; voices she knew to be her own. Telling her everything she feared to be true. He does not love you. She brought her knees up against her chest. You are weak, the weakest here. She put her hands over her hears but it did nothing to block the voices out. You can't protect anyone, you can't even protect yourself. She shut her eyes close as hard as she could. You should go home and never come back. Her body started to tremble at the painful words she was hearing. It's your fault, everything is because of you. Tears rolled down from the corner of her eyes, she tried hard to not cry but in vain. He wants her, not you. You will never be her. He loves her. Inu Yasha love Kikyo. At this comment Kagome could not keep it together anymore and cried loudly, yelling for the voice to stop. And they did, leaving the young girl to sob and rock herself. You can change that, you know. You can become powerful. More powerful that you can imagine. You can make him see you. He would care about you. He will care about you. You won't be alone. You will surpass even Kikyo. You can achieve anything you want. Just let go of the light. Rejoice in the darkness. Afterall, demons are darkness. You will understand him better. He will understand you. He would love you for it. So Kagome, are you ready to be the best version of yourself?