Rin's face perked up at the sound of a soft female voice calling out.
"Lord Sesshoumaru," she cried, excitedly. "Rin hears someone in the forest—she sounds like she's hurt bad!"
Sesshoumaru frowned as his eyes scanned through the trees. He was in no mood to rescue a human woman who was too weak to get her own self out of trouble. But then there was Rin...
Sesshoumaru avoided the thought. Rin would be the only exception.
"Come now, Rin," Sesshoumaru said firmly. "I'm sure whomever it has someone looking for them, already."
Rin pouted.
"But, Lord Sesshoumaru! We're right here, we can help her now!" she whined with a stamp of her foot.
Sesshoumaru growled but Rin, accustomed to his temper, continued to stare at him obstinately.
"Fine," Sesshoumaru said finally. "We will see who this nuisance is, and you shall tend to her, not I."
"Okay!" Rin squealed, and then raced through the trees and foliage.
Sesshoumaru followed in his usual, steady pace. He was glad that Jaken was watching over his manor, because the lizard-like demon surely would have pestered him about saving yet another human life.
"There she is!" Rin cried, pointing to the pinned 'Kikyo'.
Sesshoumaru's face remained stony, but inwardly he was surprised to see the young woman, whom he knew as the lover of his hated half-brother.
She was pinned by transparent rings of what appeared to be smoke, but what Sesshoumaru knew to be the magic of soul-stealers. Something about the young woman's essence seemed off.
This is the work of that priestess, Kikyo, Sesshoumaru thought with a mixture of amusement and slight respect as he realized who was really pinned to the tree.
"Stay back, Rin."
Sesshoumaru advanced toward Kagome's unconscious figure, and raised a hand to the smoky rings. His hand began glowing a fiery red as he sought to dissolve the soul-stealers' magic.
Kagome's lifeless body loosened from its supernatural hold, and fell to the earth. Sesshoumaru studied her body for any sign of movement. Rin tiptoed over to conduct her own examination. She reached out to touch Kagome.
A blue light coursed from Rin's hands into Kagome's body. The suddenness of it all caused Rin to cry out in shock, as the warm energy caused a tingling sensation in her hands and body.
"Rin, get away from that woman!" Sesshoumaru called out sharply, but with concern.
Rin gladly complied, and sought cover behind Sesshoumaru. She peeked out from behind him.
Kagome's eyelids twitched, and she emitted small moans as her new body began to reanimate. Slowly, the sorrowful eyes opened, and they caught a glimpse of something pure white and billowy, like the tail of a large white wolf or dog.
Sesshoumaru?
Kagome's eyes closed again, but not before they had registered the red material she wore.
Kikyo?
"Kagome, calm down and tell me exactly what you dreamed," Inuyasha said firmly.
'Kagome' glared at him. "There is no time for that, we must hurry!" she spat.
"What is your problem?" Inuyasha barked. "I'm not going after Kikyo just because you've had a bad dream! I think you're just jealous!"
"Trouble in paradise, again?" Miroku said dryly, his eyes like slits from being ripped from sleep.
Sango stirred on her mat, and cast a lazy glare at Inuyasha, who had been the loudest.
Shippo hugged onto Kilala, hoping things didn't turn ugly, as they usually did concerning Inuyasha, Kagome and Kikyo.
"Back off, monk," Inuyasha hissed. "This is none of your business!"
"Well, you made it all of our business when you began shouting!" Sango yelled.
"I'm sorry, you guys," Kikyo said sweetly, "but you know how hard-headed Inuyasha can be. I think I'll go outside for a bit and give him time to cool off."
Sango and Miroku nodded in agreement.
"Don't be gone long, Kagome!" Shippo called out, hopefully.
Kikyo smiled mischievously, but with her face turned away from the little fox demon.
"Oh, don't worry, this won't take long," she said quietly.
Inuyasha glared at 'Kagome's' retreating figure.
"Fine, leave like you always do! Who needs ya, anyway?!" Inuyasha screamed.
Sango, Shippo and Miroku braced themselves to hear Kagome's sit command.
Inuyasha's dog ears perked when he didn't hear Kagome's angry cry.
Miroku frowned. "That's...odd."
Kilala stared after Kagome, and then decided to follow her.
"Good," Inuyasha said in a huff. "Maybe that cat will make sure she stays out of trouble so I don't have to come runnin' to save her, as usual."
Sango's fist came down on Inuyasha's head.
"OW! What was that for!" Inuyasha shouted.
Kikyo entered the forest, walking with a steady, yet unwavering pace. She had to find the girl. Something wasn't right. She sensed that the girl was alive, and had to find out how. Apparently, she had either underestimated Kagome's power, or someone more powerful than she had rescued her.
Kilala padded lightly behind Kikyo, but off to the side to remain hidden from her view. The cat-like demon had sensed something wrong about 'Kagome' from the beginning. Kagome was not Kagome, Kilala knew. But who?