Disclaimer: sadly i do not own Inuyasha
Chapter 2 - His Lady

She was staring into her own face. 'His Lady' or so he called her, looked exactly like herself. Kagome couldn't help but stare into this woman's face. The woman across from her merely chuckled at the girl's reaction.

"So you notice the similarity between us? I'm afraid it ends there, for although we look alike, you can never be who I am, and vice versa."

Kagome was startled by the voice of this woman, it was so unlike her own, deeper and cold. She couldn't believe that even for a moment she thought she was looking at herself. She saw a woman dressed in a tight fitting gown of black silk that billowed once it got to her knees. Her pale skin was a stark contrast to her clothing, and made it look as if her skin was glowing. Kagome couldn't help but stare, this woman across from her was simply beautiful. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy as she looked at her long, ebony hair that was perfectly straight, so unlike her own. Once again the woman chuckled.

"You needn't feel jealous Kagome, all things come with a price, even beauty."

Kagome couldn't believe what this woman said. Could she read her thoughts?

"Thank you Inuyasha, you retrieved what I asked for. You may leave us now."

So Inuyasha was his name. She was sorry to see him leave, although he was little more than a stranger to her, she felt safer in his presence. Now that she was alone with this woman, she didn't know how to feel.

"I'm sorry if you feel confused about everything that has happened to you. I feel that I owe you an explanation of some sort. Not a complete one of course, but one that will justify why I sent for you. To put it simply, you possess something I need. I don't even think you know you have it. But I greatly need it, for without it, my Shikon will never be complete again."

As she said the word 'Shikon,' the woman gestured to the jewel she wore around her neck. Kagome had overlooked it before, and now that her vision was directed towards it, she saw a small crystal sphere hanging from chain around her neck. It looked dull and lifeless, and Kagome wondered what she meant by it not being complete.
"There's no point in struggling girl. I swear you make it a point to run just to annoy me."

She immediately recognized the annoyed voice and gasped. The arms released her and she spun around with a smile on her face, only to be quickly disappointed. He wasn't who she thought he was. In fact, the person before her wasn't even human. The young man across from her looked like a demon, with his glowing amber eyes, and his smirk that revealed fangs beneath his lips. What completely convinced her that he wasn't who she thought were the two triangle ears sticking out from the mass of silver hair upon his head. This wasn't her Inuyasha, her kidnapper that she had fallen in love with.

"You want to know what is wrong with my Shikon? Well, I'm afraid that story must wait for another day. It's time for you to see your new home."

The woman smirked as she said 'home.' Kagome knew she was a prisoner, thus she assumed she was heading for a cell. She glared at her captor. How dare she be treated this way. How dare this woman mock her, this twin stranger with no name. Kagome felt a surge of anger surge through her veins, and swore she felt her blood become hot with her rage.

"You wish to know my name? My you have a lot of questions. So be it then, you may refer to me as Kikyo."

"What's wrong girl, expecting someone else? My you're incredibly dense."

"What do you mean?" stammered out Kagome. "You can't be...."

"Can't be who? Inuyasha? Haven't you ever wondered why I only visit you once a month?" The boy staring at her suddenly frowned at her, hurt flashed across his eyes. He fell to the ground and merely sat there, looking defeated. "You really don't see me do you?"

"I don't understand," she started, "if you are who you say you are, then explain to me. Yes I wondered why you only visited me once a month, but I really didn't focus on it, I was just happy to see you. Why are you so different now?"

He cringed as she asked her last question, and she immediately regretted the words. If he was her Inuyasha, why had he chased her through the woods, how had he even caught up to her so quickly? As far as she knew he wasn't even in the palace last night. She looked up at the sky and saw the sun had finally finished its ascent into the sky.

"Every night I visited you was my human night. Once a month the demon that dwells within my blood leaves me, allowing me to be human. I had been human that night that I first brought you to that place, so I figured it was best if you continued to see me that way. Until last night that is. How could you run away again? You're lucky you're bleeding. I could smell it miles away. If the soldiers had found you before I did, you would have met a ghastly fate, and I don't mean death."

Kagome looked into his eyes, although they were amber instead of their usual dark color, she recognized the soul behind them, and realized it was her Inuyasha she was looking at. She merely sat beside down beside him and sighed. Why had he waited so long to tell her?

"Look. I have to take you back, but calm down and let me explain." He could see the look on her face and didn't want to lose control without understanding. "I'm being selfish in take you back, but I need your help. Kikyo's precious Shikon is the only way I can be free. I am a prisoner there just like you are. The Shikon can help us both. I know she hasn't explained anything more to you since you've been there, but please stay. I need you."

Kagome was surprised by his words. Although she knew her feelings, she had no idea how he felt towards her. True, everything he said was a lot to take in, but he needed her...

"Alright, I'll go back with you."