"This place is larger then I thought at first." Kagome spoke as she stepped into the large dining room where Taisrika sat stitching a small garment spread across her lap.

Taisrika smiled and nodded. "How do you figure?"

Kagome hesitated a moment. "Well...I'll go through a door and it's not the same room I remember but I never get lost. It's as if..." she frowned.

"Go on."

"It's as if the door automatically becomes where I want to go. Is that right?"

Taisrika laughs and rose to kiss her forehead. "It is indeed honored little sister. Here, eat something." Taisrika sat her in a chair at the table loading a small golden platter before her with food. Taisrika walked around the table and sat across from her. "Is it worth it Kagome?"

Kagome looked up and sat in silence for a moment. She wanted to play dumb as if she didn't understand the question but she did. "Yes. I love him." She smiled as tears gathered in her eyes. "And he's always risking himself for me. Getting hurt for me. What else can I do but give all I have to save him."

"Even though his heart may belong to another?"

Kagome picked at the food. "Kikyou. He still loves her. She's alive isn't she?" Taisrika nodded. "She died for him. Who am I to compete but...I believe there's a part of him that loves me too. Even a little bit. Even though I get on his nerves."

"What will you do once he is healed Kagome?"

Kagome smiled. "We'll have to go find Shippou, Sango, and Miroku and make sure they're all alright. Then if he can we'll return to searching for the jewel shards."

"And you? What if you can't?"

"I have to." Kagome said quietly.

Taisrika watched her sympathetically for a while before speaking again. "Trials and choices will be made here. Soon. Those choices will affect everything."

Kagome looked up in surprise. "I've chosen already."

Taisrika smiled sadly "So you have." She nodded then rose. "Eat. Then go and wander. You won't get lost. It's early evening now. Sleep when you're ready and I'll wake you tomorrow when it's time."

Kagome nodded without a word then watched Taisrika leave the room. Meanwhile Inuyasha struggled....

"Inuyasha. What are you doing?" Shippou was sitting infront of his head.

Inuyasha looked up. "Shippou?" voice strained.

Shippou tugged at his hair "Come on Inuyasha! Kagome is waiting for us." Inuyasha rose mechanically. Kagome? Kagome was waiting. Waiting. "Hurry Inuyasha! Hurry!"

He walked faster as fast as he could and a soft joy washed over him. Kagome was waiting. Yes Kagome. They rounded a corner and were suddenly on a mountain. Kagome sat at the edge of the cliff in Kikyou's clothes, hair bound back as Kikyou's always had been. She turned when they appeared and smiled her sweet smile that was so different from Kikyou's. Full of joy and hope rather then sadness and resignation. She laughs richly as Shippou jumped into her arms.

"Inuyasha. Are you ready?" She asked him gently.

Inuyasha stepped forward confused. "Ready for what?"

"He doesn't remember Kagome." Shippou said shaking his head.

Kagome smiled. "We'll remind him." And she stepped forward and kissed him. A soft kiss that somehow...somehow wasn't Kagome's. And when she pulled back he saw why. Kikyou stood before him instead of Kagome though she still held Shippou as Kagome had.

"He looks drowsy now Kagome." Shippou said.

Kikyou smiled. "I suppose he's tired. We'll rest soon."

"Right!" Shippou didn't see. Didn't see it wasn't Kagome.

Sango and Miroku appeared on the cliff above and waved. "Come on you guys!" Miroku called. "Let's get moving Kagome."

Kikyou nodded. "Alright. Come Inuyasha." And took his hand and Inuyasha could say nothing but her looked behind him and Kagome hovered just of the cliff, suspended by chains like a marionette, head slumped forward against her chest. His mouth worked slowly... "Kagome." Both Kikyou and Kagome lifted their face to look at him. Kagome smiled and shook her head and lifted a hand slowly to point at Kikyou. "For you Inuyasha." Her voice whispered but he heard. "For your happiness Inuyasha. Be happy." And she sank and he screamed but couldn't move. His hand was caught in Kikyou's and he couldn't pull free. Couldn't abandon her. He was trapped.

And things faded and darkness fell again.