Kikyou stepped from the bushes to see Kei and Inuyasha glaring fiercely at one another. She smiled slightly to herself, happy her presence wasn't yet noticed. She walked quietly up to where Kagome was staring in horror and placed a hand over her mouth so she wouldn't scream.

After Kagome had gotten over the initial shock she immediately turned to face Kikyou.
"What do you think you are doing?" She hissed, venom flowing off her words.

Kikyou smiled that mysterious smile of hers and nodded towards Inuyasha, still ignorant of her presence.

"How long has he been back?" Kikyou questioned, her dark eyes drilling into Kagome's.

"Uh, I don't know." Stuttered Kagome, slightly taken aback by her harsh stare.

By this time, Miroku and Sango noticed Kikyou and tried the best they could to keep Inuyasha from realizing she was her, lest he get distracted from the unknown intruder.

Keeping as quiet as they could, they moved their way over by Kagome.

"What is she doing here?" Sango whispered in Kagome's ear as she walked in by her side.

"I don't know." Said Kagome, rather puzzled by this. "She just appeared out of the bushes."

"Do you think she and this lady could be a team of sorts?" Asked Miroku seriously, throwing glances over his shoulder at Inuyasha and the woman.

The odd girl's eyes still hadn't left him. He could sense that she didn't trust him but was okay with that, because quite frankly he didn't trust her either. He heard movement behind him but didn't bother to turn.

This is one staring contest that might be serious, Inuyasha thought to himself, though he couldn't see any real threat to the girl. Something about her made him uneasy though, so he kept her gaze.

Her eyes were mysterious, carefully hiding anything of her. They were perfectly veiled so they looked as if they belonged to some insolent fool. Inuyasha almost fell for it, until he saw a glimmer of intelligence alight in her. Something sparked within him and he knew who she reminded him of... his mother.

As soon as he let that thought cross his mind he blinked, forfeiting the match to the familiar stranger. She seemed rather surprised at his sudden loss, and blinked herself, eyes showing confusion and fright, but only for a second as the barrier was quickly replaced and all emotion was gone.

A/N dances I'm back from camp! Sorry about the long delay from updating, I had writer's block. Now, I actually have an idea! cheers Oh, and about Inuyasha not being able to smell Kikyou... that isn't a mistake on my part. I'll give you one guess as to why he couldn't smell her... Can you say new moon? grins evilly Oops, I didn't mean to give so much away!

Oh yeah, and I figured out what Kikyou's and Kei's secrets are going to be. That I'm not going to give away though! .