(Wake me up) Wake me up inside
(I cant wake up) Wake me up inside
(Save me) Call my name and save me from the dark

Evanescence Bring Me To Life

Chapter 3

"So Kyla, how much longer until 13?" Kagome asked me as we walked through the trees. The sun had come up a few hours ago, and now we traveled through broad daylight.

"I've got three days." I replied. "I'm kind of nervous; Inuyasha said that's when my half-demon features will show."

"Some half-demons don't even know their heritage until they turn 13. The only way to know for sure is smell." Inuyasha said smugly.

I grinned and poked him. "You're bragging Inuyasha."

"Feh."

Kagome and I laughed. She, Sango, and I had already formed a girl's friendship, and we were getting closer.

"Don't worry Kyla. We'll help you through it!" Shippo had also formed a friendship with me, and he enjoyed sitting on my shoulder.

I had not heard from them in the past two hours, and the silence in my mind was a relief. Inuyasha hadn't stopped giving me looks though. I knew he was still suspicious about my earlier lapse. I couldn't place who it had been that had told me of the Tetsusaiga, but I had felt pride and love from the voice.

I sighed inwardly. I was still unsure about telling them of my ability. I wasn't sure if they would even believe me. Shippo suddenly patted my cheek. "Is something wrong Kyla?"

I smiled at the kitsune. "No Shippo. I'm fine."


(3 days later)

Power. It flared sharply in my sight, nearly blinding me at first. There was something in that light, but I could not make it out. I stood; one hand on Hitokiri's hilt. I heard a sudden scream of pain, and I gasped. That was Inuyasha! A voice came to my ears. "Only you can help him Kyla. You must protect my son. You must protect Inuyasha." It was that voice, the one that had told me of the Tetsusaiga. It was full of love, and yet fear.

I saw a women's face, beautiful, gentle and kind. "Please Kyla. You must do this for me. Tell my son; tell Inuyasha that he must be brave. Tell him that I love him, and to follow his heart."

Her name appeared in my mind. I knelt gracefully, lowering my head. "I will Lady Izayoi."

She smiled, and then her ghostly hand touched my raven hair. "You have been given a special gift Kyla, one that gives you the ability to communicate with the dead. Not only that, but you have demon blood." She knelt beside me, touching my face. "Inuyasha will help you though this. My son is going through a difficult time himself. Help him and in turn he will help you. When you are ready I will send your parents."

I looked up at her, disbelief and hope shining in my eyes. "I appreciate that greatly my lady."

"Now, wake."


I opened my eyes to darkness, and then I blinking as everything cleared. I yawned, and then paused. I had fangs, just like Inuyasha. My nails were harder and more durable, and deadly sharp. They still retained their black color though. I heard soft breaths and looked to see Sango beside me. Her breathing was louder in my ears and I reached, gasping. My ears were gone! I reached farther up, feeling silky dog ears atop my head. I flicked them and giggling lightly. I sniffed, the scents I unconsciously registered as my friends coming to my nose. I chuckled. By his smell Inuyasha was sleeping.

I grinned. 'I'm a half-demon.' I stood and stretched, leaving the fireside. I leaped into a tree, and then dug my claws into the bark, climbing farther up. I found myself at the top, breathing deep of the air. I sniffed, then my ears flicked back as I heard a sound.

Inuyasha was sitting on a branch just below me, a grin on his face. "You've made the transformation."

I leaped down to rest beside him, nodding as I did. "I feel so much more, free." I stood, leaning against the trunk of the tree. "I've never felt this good in my life."

Inuyasha chuckled lightly. "Yea. Great feeling isn't it?"

I nodded enthusiastically. He moved closer, gesturing to my ears. "Sure, go ahead." I knew he wanted to touch.

His fingers were gentle and soothing, and I found myself pushing closer to him. My throat began to vibrate and I heard Inuyasha chuckle. "You're purring." I didn't answer, just continued to push my ears against his hand. "They're still black; whatever you did to your hair must have affected them."

His fingers left my ears and I held back a whine. "How did you know…."

He tapped his nose. "There's a lot you can smell out, magic, identity, age, race, so on." He looked over to the rising sun. I watched him silently, my mind flashing back to the message Izayoi had given me. He suddenly turned to me, a malicious gleam in his eyes. "Spar with me?"

I grinned wickedly. "You're on!"

He leaped from the branch, landing on the ground far below and drawing the Tetsusaiga in one fluid motion. I marveled at his speed and agility, admiring the way he could so effortlessly wield the great blade. I leaped as well, drawing Hitokiri in midair and landing with a gentle thump on the ground. He rushed at me an instant later, Tetsusaiga screaming through the air. I blocked quickly, sending waves of power through my blade as it transformed. For the next moments it was nothing more than rush and block, then the tables turned as I caught the Tetsusaiga in a locked position, then flung him away, spinning Hitokiri and darting towards him.

His breath was slightly leaden as he spoke, leaping backwards away from me. "You got any attacks with that blade of yours?"

I grinned, and then spun Hitokiri above my head, bringing it down to slam against the dirt. "BLOOD FANG!" Waves of blood red energy flew at him, larger and more powerful then I could have ever thought. My demon blood had enhanced it.

Inuyasha's face was a look of joy in the fight as he whirled Tetsusaiga. "WIND SCAR!" Our attacks met in a blaze of power, plunging the area into blinding light. When the energy cleared I found myself staring at Inuyasha across a crater in the ground. I stood up straight, holding Hitokiri out horizontally front of me in a salute to my opponent.

"Well fought my friend." I called as Inuyasha jumped easily over the hole in the ground. "That was definitely a thrill."

He sheathed the giant fang as I did the same with my own katana. "There is nothing better than a good spar."

I grinned, and then looked around as my sharper ears caught the sound of footsteps. Kagome, Sango, and Miroku were walking towards us, Shippo riding on Kagome's shoulder. Kagome's face was a look of pure amazement. "That was AWESOME!"

Inuyasha was gloating as I grinned, flicking my ears slightly to see if it would catch her attention. Sango smiled. "Kyla, you're a half-demon."

I smiled. "Sure are. It's great." I looked back at Inuyasha. I still wasn't sure how I was going to let him know I had been in contact with his mother; that I could talk with the dead. I sighed. It could wait.