An evil laugh seeped through the dark room. Two figures sat in the corner. One, a small child of white, held a mirror for the other to see. "It appears that your brother has been causing much trouble, Kanna. I dispersed him as mere entertainment, but it appears that he may have been the key to destroying my enemies," the dark figure threw back his head again, roaring with evil laughter.
"But father, why has my brother chosen the human girl?" Kanna asked of the man sitting before her.
"He seeks power. All youkai are surrounded by their own aura of power. The miko is pure power. It does not surprise me that he sought her blood on his journey," a dark chuckle followed his explanation to the demon child at his feet.
The crystal waters rippled and pooled as it followed the stream through the little village. A young man, kneeling over a still pool, seamed hypnotized by his own reflection. He was interrupted by a monk calling his name.
Inuyasha jumped up and ran to Kaede's hut when he heard Miroku calling him. The monk stood holding the door flap as Inuyasha burst into the small room. He felt his heart leap as he seen Kagome sitting up talking. She turned to him as he came to a stop. Her violet eyes flew wide with shock when his dark features were revealed.
Tears immediately welled up in her eyes. Inuyasha was human. His silver hair, and puppy ears, just a memory. 'How afraid he must be right now,' Kagome thought. Immediately her arms lifted; outstretched to welcome him to the comfort only she could provide. A little Miko with a huge heart. Inuyasha fell into her arms. He rested his head gently on her chest, as if checking for her heartbeat to ensure that she really lived. As she felt him shaking, Kagome's sobs grew stronger. Never before had Inuyasha cried in her presence. He wrapped his arms around her so tight that he almost took her breath away.
"Kagome, I was so worried about you. You took two more days than I did to wake up!" His voice crackled with tears. Kagome pulled him closer, slowly caressing his hair, attempting to place a sense of calmness into her shaken friend. "I'm OK Inuyasha. Everything is going to be OK," she soothed, but in her own mind... she wasn't so sure.
Kagome couldn't break her gaze as she stared at her hands. The claws flickered in the light from the little window behind Inuyasha. Immediately her eyes fell on the blue marking that began just behind the knuckle of her pointing fingers and disappeared under the hem of her shirt. She reached over Inuyasha's head with her left hand, and pushed the sleeve further up her arm. The stripe continued, growing slightly larger until it reached its maximum size of about an inch. It ran in a huge arc that curved gradually wrapping until it's flared end stopped at her elbow.
Inuyasha could feel Kagome stiffen against him. He felt her moving her arms up and outward. He stepped back only to see the shock in her eyes.
"What?... what happened to me?" Kagome began to shake and scoot backwards, as if she could escape the markings on her own skin. Her hands lifted to touch her face. She looked to her friend... hoping that he would tell her that this was a dream.
"I'm sorry Kagome. I guess the venom must have had the opposite effect on you. No one can figure why it bit you. All the others were full youkai or half. Miroku says you are the only human who has been attacked so far." He spoke the words as calmly as he could, trying to suppress the human emotions that raged inside himself.
Kagome reached up and pulled her hair through her fingers. The shining strands of onyx, blue and silver, fell around her hand like fine silken threads. The length of it amazed her as well. It must have grown eight inches at least! "Well, she chuckled slightly, I've never been able to get it to grow before," she smiled in encouragement to Inuyasha. She was scared, but slightly excited as well. "Am I a half-demon now," her questioning gaze fell to Miroku for further enlightenment.
Miroku took a deep breath. Before speaking, "No Kagome, your not half demon. You are full youkai." He registered the look of shock on the lovely woman's face. She looked as if she would begin crying all over again.
Kagome couldn't believe her ears. 'What am I going to tell mom?' She shuddered at the lecture she knew she would get over this. 'Oh Kami, I must be nuts! That's the least of my worries!' She threw her legs to the side to stand. Inuyasha leapt towards her in order to assist her first rise in four days. Surprisingly she needed no assistance. In fact, she felt wonderful. She felt almost.... dangerous.
The occupants of the hut followed her outside. To all the villagers watching the scene, it looked like an angel had descended upon their midst. The enchanted female strode towards the stream with Inuyasha and Miroku following closely behind. She stopped short when a furry bundle leapt into her arms. Shippo nuzzled her in his excitement to see his Kagome had finally awakened. Sango was right behind the little kitsune. She enveloped her 'sister' in a heartwarming hug.
"Oh Kagome! You scared the life out of me," Sango insisted as she hugged her closer.
"It's OK Sango, I feel fine now. I was headed to the stream, to see how much damage has been done," Kagome replied with a little laugh.
"There is certainly no damage from where I'm standing," chuckled the naughty monk. He soon regretted his words when the demon slayer and female youkai turned to glare daggers at him. He decided it would be in his best interest to keep quiet about his friends' new look.
"Hey monk, watch yourself," Inuyasha warned.
The group stopped at the stream. Kagome leaned down slowly. She kept her eyes shut tightly; almost afraid of what she would see. After willing them open again she was shocked. The woman staring back at her was like nothing she'd ever seen. "That can't be me. I can't be this pretty."
"You've always been pretty Kagome," Sango assured her.
"Wow. I can't believe this." She couldn't take her eyes from the image. "I look like a fairy! Without the wings, of course." Everyone laughed at her self-portrayal. She stood, and turned to leave.