Author's note: There's a lot of dialogue in this chapter, but it makes up for itself in the next one....

Kagome opened her eyes slowly. What happened? She wondered as she sat up in her bed.

Wait a minute...her bed?

Everything came back to her in a rush. She remembered the fight with Inuyasha, the attack by the ugly little demon, and then...then nothing.

Kagome turned and swung her feet onto the floor. Inuyasha must have brought her home, but she didn't remember any of it. "Inuyasha?" she asked tentatively.

The door to her room inched open and Kagome's eyes were immediately drawn to it. Disappointment filled her momentarily as she caught sight of the figure behind the door. It wasn't Inuyasha.

It was her brother, Souta.

"I'm glad you're awake, Kagome."

There was something different about her brother, but Kagome couldn't figure out what was bothering her. "How did I get here?"

"Actually, I'm not sure how to say this, but...you're not really here."

"What? Come on Souta, this isn't the time for games. Seriously, what happened to me?"

Her brother walked toward her bed and sat on the edge. He looked down for a moment, and when he looked back up, Kagome was scared by the seriousness that lay there. Her brother had always had that mischievous twinkle in his eyes...

"Souta, what's going on?"

"Kagome, do you remember what happened to you today?"

"Yes, I was attacked, and then that gross little demon blew something at my face. After that, I don't remember much."

"Well," he began, "that wasn't dust, Kagome. You've been poisoned."

"But I feel fine." Something was definitely wrong, Kagome could sense it. "Where are Inuyasha and the others?"

"They're back in the feudal era with your body-"

"With my what? Souta, come on, stop it! You're starting to scare me! Now tell me what's going on!"

"Ok, but you have to promise to listen. We don't have much time, and I need you to promise that you won't interrupt. Agreed?"

Kagome nodded. "Deal. Just tell me what's happening to me! This is starting to get weird."

"You have no idea, " the boy said softly. "All right, here goes nothing."

"You were poisoned by that dust, Kagome. Inuyasha took you back to the village, and that's where your physical form now lies. Right now, you are in a spiritual form. Everything looks normal, but it doesn't feel quite real, does it?"

He's right, she thought. It does feel like something is different.

"Exactly," he said, reading her thoughts. "You are here in spiritual form because the poison is designed to attack your mind. You are here to fight what your body cannot. Follow me so far?"

"I think so...what you're saying is that right now, I'm dreaming?"

"Yes. Now, this next part is where things start to get complicated. You see, a normal human would have no defense against a poison like this. But you are a special case. Your dormant miko powers were sufficient enough to bring up some basic defenses."

"What do you mean?"

"Your powers created me. You already have figured out that I'm not your brother. I'm actually a part of your mind, and you gave me this form."

"But why would I give you this form? Souta isn't exactly the person I would envision as my protector."

The boy shifted slightly on the bed. "I look like your brother because he is a neutral form. When the poison begins it's attack, you will see, hear, and feel things that will send your mind into shock. Every fear that you have will be magnified, and it will be hard for you to discern truth from illusion. Your friends will most likely be involved in these nightmares, and hopefully you will be able to see me as an ally when the time comes."

"Oh," Kagome said. She was growing worried over the way he was treating all of this so calmly. "So how do I beat this poison and escape these nightmares?"

"Well, your friends in the feudal era are working on that. They are trying to break the fever you are developing. Once they manage that, the doorway will be open for you to join again with your physical body. But until then..."

"I'm trapped here in my nightmares?"

"Yep. You have to stay strong, Kagome. It will be very hard for you once this poison spreads through you. Everything you see will seem to be real, but you have to find a way to fight through the illusion. If you don't your mind will become trapped forever, and your body will die. But you will have help. I'm here to help draw you back, and your friends will always be near you, probably talking to you, lending their strength. When all seems lost, just listen and draw your strength from their words.

Souta looked toward the door and stood up, offering his hand to Kagome. "It's time, Kagome. The poison has reached us. Please be careful, and remember...none of this is real. Are you ready?"

The girl nodded, "I guess I have to be," she whispered. She could sense the evil of the poison right outside the door as it tried to fight it's way in. I wish Inuyasha were here...she wished suddenly. Brushing the though aside, she took a careful step toward the wooden door and braced herself for what lay beyond. None of this is real...she repeated the words like a mantra, hoping that she would indeed remember. Then, with a confidence she was only beginning to feel, she stepped through the door and into her fate.