Disclaimer: Nothing is mine.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Inuyasha couldn't be certain. He had a sneaking suspicion but he couldn't make sure of it. But what if he was wrong? Then what? He would have made a fool of himself without a reason.

'Well, you never know unless you try.'

'Why did I think that I was lucky enough to be left alone?' Inuyasha was becoming rather annoyed with this continual 'visitor.'

'Because you weren't thinking straight. Now, I've given you a very useful gift and I won't have it ignored because you are afraid of it being wrong.'

'When did you give me this 'gift' anyway?'

'Do you remember when Kagome was first poisoned and I was speaking to you?'

'Hai'

'I know you felt something. Sort of a tingling perhaps?'

'So that's what it was.'

'Naturally. Now stop being a fool and use it. Take Kagome off into the woods and try it. She will help you.'

Inuyasha wanted to swear when the voice left without another explanation. He sighed.

'Inuyasha? What's wrong?'

He turned to see Kagome peering at him anxiously. Apparently, she had turned just in time to see his look of concentration, turn into a downright scowl directed to no one in particular.

It's now or never. He closed his eyes and leaned back, all the tension in his face eased and it looked as if he was attempting to meditate.

'K-Kagome?'

Inuyasha knew Kagome had heard him, if only by her actions. She stiffened immediately, dropping everything she had been holding, with the exception of Shippo, who had climbed up to her shoulder as soon as she had moved. Kagome turned to him, questions written everywhere on her face.

"Kagome-chan? What's wrong?"

Kagome shook her head at Sango. She moved to pick up all the things she had dropped, keeping an eye on Inuyasha, who had not so much as twitched at all.

'Inuyasha? Was that you?'

'Was what me?'

'How did you-? When did you-? How is this-? Inuyasha?'

'Hai?'

Kagome walked right over to Inuyasha and sat down in front of him, 'You're being difficult on purpose aren't you? You are sooo lucky that I can't use 'osuwari' Inuyasha.'

Inuyasha opened his eyes, giving Kagome one of his trademark smirks, 'I forgot about that bitch. Now you can't do anything to keep me here can you?'

'Inuyasha? You want to.leave?'

Kagome turned away from him and stood, her head bowed so no one could see her face, ignoring even Shippo's attempts to get her to tell them something, anything, as to what was going on.

'Ka-Kagome wait!'

'Yes, Inuyasha?' Her voice was flat, even in this mind speech, 'Did you want something before you left?'

Inuyasha couldn't say anything before she added, 'Oh wait, I forgot, I still have the Shikon shards don't I. I can't give them to you Inuyasha. Perhaps when the jewel is complete, you may wish to come and get it. After all, I did promise.'

Inuyasha could smell the tears that Kagome was working so hard to suppress.

'What am I to you, Inuyasha?'

Kagome lifted her head and raised her chin defiantly. She walked out the door, without another word.

'Kagome.' Inuyasha thought. He stood and followed out the door, 'Dammit. What have I done now.'

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Kagome walked silently through the woods, pondering what had possessed her to take Inuyasha's casual remarks so seriously.

'He was probably joking,' she thought.

But it was too late to go back now. She didn't even know where she had gone. Following her instincts had led her to this small spring, unfortunately, it was not the one that kept the secret to her voice's return. She sat down silently, gazing down at her reflection on the water.

'Why?' she thought sorrowfully, 'Why do I look like this? Who does Inuyasha see when he looks at me? Does he even see me? Or is it Kikyo that he looks at? He can't. Even the voice said that I am my own person. My soul is my own. I was created for myself. Not as someone's reincarnation. I will be myself.'

Kagome sat back against the foot of a large tree, untying the ribbon that had held her hair up so much like Kikyo's. She rested her head against the bark, eyes drifting closed, hands gripping the ribbon growing slack. She suddenly felt so tired.

She didn't hear them coming.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

'Dammit Kagome!' Inuyasha thought as he raced through the forest growth, 'Where did you go?'

He had tried yelling in both mind and voice with no response. He couldn't find her scent anywhere and he couldn't feel her mind or presence at all. He felt so alone without her. He didn't know where she was at all.

Ah! Something familiar reached his nose. He sniffed at is carefully. Yes, it was definitely her scent. But it was carried away on the wind. Inuyasha went along the direction that the wind was coming from. He came to a stop when her scent disappeared all but for a slight tinge.

'Kagome?' He called out, his mind subconsciously reaching out to find hers.

No reply. He sniffed the air again, trying to find where that slight bit of smell was coming from. He looked around the water edge carefully, certain that it was around there somewhere. Something caught his eye. He picked up the soft black object. Her hair ribbon. Now why would she leave her hair ribbon out like this? Unless.

Another scent reached his nose, one that he knew very well, and didn't like at all. He suddenly knew what had happened.

Kagome had been taken.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Inuyasha couldn't think. His hand fisted tightly over the soft cloth, crushing it with the force of his anger. Small trickles of blood seeped down his fingers but he barely noticed. He shook his head, trying to concentrate on how to get Kagome back. His Kagome.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Kagome woke slowly, something about this wasn't right. Her mind was still hazy with the aftereffects of sleep. She shifted and felt the unfamiliar softness that she was lying in. Her eyes slowly adjusted to the dim light and her ears picked up a muffled crashing noise that was vaguely familiar, as was this situation. She sat up slowly, eyes widening and mouth falling open as she realized where she was.

She looked around slowly, trying to figure how she had gotten to this place and if this was some sort of bad dream or not. A quick pinch assured her that this was indeed reality, and a harsh one at that. Kagome winced inwardly when one of the youkai, that had been sleeping near the opening of the cavern, stirred. She leaned back against a long stalagmite and sat cross-legged, staring straight ahead, knowing that any second now her situation would be explained to her, whether she wished to know or not.

Her attention was turned back to the youkai when he stood and glanced back at her, shaking his companion awake when he saw that she was awake. The youkai gestured and spoke to the other until his companion left and he walked towards her.

"Welcome back nee-san!" he exclaimed enthusiastically.

Kagome sighed, her eyes closing as she gave a soft mental reply, 'It's been a while, hasn't it Ginta?'

Ginta's eyes widened and he took a step back, calling out to the two figures that had appeared in the opening, "Oi! There's something different about nee-san!"

Ginta stepped away to let the new youkai come closer.

"Oi Kagome! What is it?" he said, leaning in so that they were face to face.

Kagome opened her eyes, and blinked at the youkai, she said nothing.

"Kagome? What is it woman?"

'Why have you brought me here, Kouga-kun?'

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sango and Miroku blinked as Inuyasha came crashing through the roof of the small hut, showering them all with dust and debris. Inuyasha said nothing to explain, just held out his palm to show them the crushed fabric, scowling.

Shippo leaned forwards, sniffing at the hand, "Oi Inuyasha? Isn't that Kagome's?" he asked innocently, confused.

Sango's eyes widened as the words hit her. Her mind was instantly filled with what the ribbon implied. She spoke slowly, her voice was bland as she fought the urge to grab Inuyasha and demand an explanation, "Where is Kagome, Inuyasha?"

Inuyasha curled fisted his hands tightly, spitting out the words as if they left a sour taste in his mouth, "That bastard wolf, Kouga has her."

Sango turned away. She picked up her Hiraikotsu and adjusted it onto her back, setting her pet down and walking out the door. Inuyasha followed her. They all heard the shout of, "Kirara!" Before Miroku and Shippo followed them outside. Miroku called out, "Jaken-sama! Watch Rin and the hut until we return!"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Kagome watched as the expression on Kouga's face shifted into puzzlement. Her own face remaining carefully blank.

'Why have you brought me here Kouga-kun?' she repeated, growing impatient.

"What are you doing woman? How are you doing this?" Kouga finally found his voice, demanding answers even as his face had not changed from the confused expression. Kagome would have laughed had this not been so serious.

'Kouga-kun, I don't have time to explain this to you. Tell me how to get back to the others now.'

Kouga shook his head and his expression shifted back into the proud arrogance that he normally wore, "You're staying here Kagome. You are MY woman and it's up to me to protect you. Especially since inukkoro left you out in the woods alone."

Kagome lifted an eyebrow, giving him the most skeptical expression that she could, 'I fell asleep.'

"Exactly. Inukkoro can't protect you if he doesn't even know where you are and my tribe can if you are here."

Kagome shifted into a crouched position, her eyes not leaving his face as she regarded him, 'Don't make me fight you Kouga-kun.'

"Fight me? I won't fight you Kagome. You aren't leaving and that's that." Kouga had the most disbelieving face on.

'You may not have a choice Kouga. I am leaving and if you try to stop me, I'll fight you.' Kagome glared at him.

Kagome stood and walked to the waterfall that acted as the door. Kouga appeared in front of her, moving so that he was ahead of her where ever she went. His arm crossed, he moved to pick her up again. Kouga didn't have a clue as to what happened next. Kagome blurred and dodged his attempt, ending up in front of him and continuing to walk. Kouga came in front of her once more. Kagome sighed.

Kouga, thinking this was a sign of her giving up, grinned. Kagome drew her sword, and sped forwards. She sidestepped him and tripped him, sending him sprawled to the ground, stepping over him and pressing the tip of the blade to his throat.

'I'm leaving.' She told him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Inuyasha stepped in at that instant, watching Kagome gain her release. Kagome stepped off Kouga, re-sheathing her sword and turning.

'What took you so long?' she asked Inuyasha.

Inuyasha couldn't find a reply to that and just grinned at her. Sango and Miroku landed as the two stepped through the waterfall, taking Inuyasha's grin as a good sign.

'Well done Child of Light.'

Kagome started when she heard the voice suddenly in her mind.

Inuyasha noticed, as she almost tripped, 'Kagome? What is it?'

'Oh go away Inuyasha. I'm trying to talk to her alone.'

Inuyasha's eyebrow twitched in annoyance, but withdrew his mind.

'Now as I was saying Kagome, that was very well done.'

'I'm glad you thought so,' Kagome tried to suppress her laughter at Inuyasha's scowling face, 'I didn't do anything special though.'

'Yes you have. I didn't think that you would be able to master the speed so fast.'

'You mean when I moved around Kouga?'

'Yes. It's another gift that comes with being the Child of Light. It's to help you. You have many of the skills of a youkai when you choose to.'

'I thought that that was all you,' she admitted, her brow furrowing as another thought occurred to her, 'But this means that Kikyo has the same abilities though doesn't it.'

'You're even brighter than I thought. Yes she does, but I don't think that she had been able to master them all yet, nor has she used them as well as you. She tends to rely heavily on her miko skills.'

'Hmm.'

'What is it?'

'Do you think that I can win?'

'What do you mean?'

'I lost the last time Kikyo and I fought. I'm not strong enough to do this.'

'Of course you are. You have one of the strongest souls that I have ever come across,' she could hear the startled tone in the voice, 'You can control your power, even if your emotions over ride your senses. Your miko powers are the most powerful I have seen and you are getting stronger with ever day that passes. All you have to do is train them a bit. You can purify any poison no matter how strong. You can purify any shard of Shikon no Tama no matter how corrupted it has become. You carried it in your soul for centuries, without absorbing it. Have you no confidence in yourself at all?'

'But Kikyo is stronger than I am. I can't win against her.'

'Yes, you can, you must believe in yourself and your friends. Remember Kagome. The power comes from you, not me. Even if I'm not here, you have the power, know that. Know that we believe in you. No matter what the outcome of all this, if you remain confident and use all your abilities to their full extent, you have triumphed,' there was a surprisingly soft, caring tone in the voice and Kagome could almost feel the reassurance and belief that the voice was filling her soul with.

'Thank you.' Kagome could feel the tears that started to drip down her face, 'Thank you so very much.'

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Jap. Translations:

Inukkoro - Dog Crap, Dog Face, something like that.