Oh, you all flatter me, I just about fainted when I read all of your reviews. I'm still shaking. Loopey, loopey, loopey, ahh, I feel lighter than air! Thank you all so much!

You know where to look for the disclaimer.

***

Reflection

Chapter 8-The Soul of the Light

***

It spread through her body like poison. Kagome had long since screwed her eyes shut out of fear of the odd, purplish light that had gathered about her. Now, she couldn't open them.

'Am I dead?' She thought fearfully. She struggled to move her limbs, to reach out and touch something, anything, as an anchorage to Earth. Kagome was not ready to die.

Sesshomaru, Kagura, all of them had flown her mind when she realized her plight. Something was attacking her from the inside, it was a change, and it was taking over. She had no idea what could be happening, or how it had begun with her throwing herself before the demon lord like that, an action that had taken her like an alien force all its own, and she couldn't stop it.

Her mind reeled, suddenly bursting with foreign images and sounds she had no recollection of. Kagome saw people from an ancient time decades back, she heard a voice that was not her own, and she heard the dreaded noise of the song that had tortured her.

Something was taking over her body. In an explosive moment, it suddenly hit home with Kagome, and she went from meek, cowering fear, to the wild desperation of a wild animal. She began to fight, to kick and punch the air, but she was only picturing these movements, her arms and legs remained still. Panicking, she tried hard to thrash about, knowing from past experience that possession was far worse than death.

'I don't want to hurt anyone again!'

Kagome began to focus on the faces of her friends, on Shippou, Miroku, Sango, Inu-Yasha, she couldn't hurt them!

Slowly, an energy that was not of her possessor began to course through her veins. She felt it surge through her, and she was filled with hope. Kagome suddenly knew that she could beat this, she was stronger! Her friends were her lifeline, with their support, Kagome knew she could win this battle.

She let herself become calm rather than fearful, and tried very patiently to move. In her mind, she refused to let the invasive thoughts-that-were-not-her-own enter her consciousness; and it was working.

'This is who I am, and I'm staying, thank you very much.' Kagome thought as if speaking to her tormentor directly. And as if in response, she felt like she was gaining some control again.

Gradually, she felt the force that sought to control her receding. She took advantage immediately and fought harder. Her hands began to tremble, her eyelids started to flutter a bit, it was happening, Kagome remained!

'Yes! Yes, yes yes!'

It would end now, and with a last burst of strength Kagome shoved all traces of the poisonous change from her being. She felt herself fall forward, the lasting image of a swirling light before her eyes burned into her mind before she hit the hard ground.

Somehow, however, she felt as if it still stayed with her.

"Kagome!"

***

"Who's speaking?" Kagome mumbled, and she pried her eyes open. She sighed with relief when she saw that she was just where she expected herself to be: lying on the stone entrance way of the palace, looking around at all of her friends.

They returned her stare with one of ultimate shock and confusion. She flipped her head immediately to find Kagura and her demon hoard in the sky, poised for attack, but there were only clouds drifting now.

Kagome hesitantly turned back to the faces of her companions, poised to ask a question, when Miroku, Shippou, Rin, and a fully transformed Kirara came bursting through the entrance doors.

Shippou was clinging to Miroku's shoulder, sputtering names, and Rin was looking around excitedly, obviously not concerned that she was standing next to a giant, and potentially dangerous cat. But when they each saw Kagome, they went totally silent.

Except for Shippou, who had a child's perception of things through and through, "Where's Kagome?" He asked timidly.

Rin was much the same; she pointed at Kagome, wide-eyed and curious, and asked like it was no matter of importance, "Who's that lady?"

Kagome gawked at them all, now just as confused as they were. "What're you talking about?" She ecxclaimed, "I'm Kagome! I'm right here!"

Silence. Miroku was the first to speak after a long pause. He cleared his throat very gentlemanly, and said, "Pardon me, My Lady, but I don't think that could be possible." His eyes twinkled, Sango shot him a menacing look.

"Don't even think about asking her that question," she spat bitterly. She then began to advance upon Kagome, offering her an outstretched hand. "Here, let me help you, um... Miss..."

"KAGOME!" She shouted, scooting away from Sango like she was a disease. "WHAT IS WRONG WITH ALL OF YOU?!"

Sango, looking a little hurt, withdrew, while Inu-Yasha, typically moody, decided to have his say. "Feh," he muttered, "She certainly acts like Kagome."

"Now wait a minute" Sango interrupted, "Maybe we should make sure of this first." She once again walked towards her, and got down on her knees to face her. She fixed Kagome with a sincere stare, and said, "What did I ask you, every time we came to a fork in the road?"

Kagome's frightened features softened, she smiled, "Left or right."

Sango beamed at her, "Correct."

Kagome bent in to embrace her tightly, and Sango hugged back, looking over her shoulder at the rest of her companions, "This is Kagome. I don't know how, but it is."

Kagome lifted her head, stared at all of them, "Why didn't you know?" She asked.

Sesshomaru, who still looked like a mixture of disbelief and shock, stepped towards her. She scowled. "I know that look." Her eyes became narrow slits. "And I know what color my hair is." She sighed. "It's gold isn't it. I look like Tenshik, don't I, Sesshomaru?"

"Yes."

Kagome hung her head and stared at the ground for a long time.

"Tenshik?" Rin had voiced the question on everyone's minds. Kagome faced Sango slowly. "I think it's about time, all of you found out why I've been so distant lately."

***

Sango was shaking, and Inu-Yasha look tortured, Miroku was trying his hardest to look thoughtful, and Shippou and Rin were undoubtedly eavesdropping on the conversation they had been denied participation in. Kagome sat uncomfortably close to Sesshomaru, who was looking at everyone with the same cold expression as always.

They were all gathered in a tight circle, in a room that looked as if it had been built strictly for conferences such as these. It had been a smart move of Sesshomaru's to bring them all to the room.

"We don't know why this is happening right now, but we will find out. I'm just sorry I've been keeping from all of you for so long." Kagome said softly after explaining what had truly been happening the last few days.

Sango reach out and touched her hand lightly. "No, no, Kagome-chan, it's all right. We understand."

"No we don't!" Inu-Yasha blurted. His fists were clenched. "Why is Sesshomaru's dead mate haunting Kagome?!" Sesshomaru looked ready to tear him apart, but Kagome put out a hand.

"Let me deal with this," She said calmly, "Inu-Yasha?"

"What?" He scowled at her.

"Osuwari."

He crashed to the ground magnificently, sending a small tremor through the ground.

"Now," she began again, "I want to know that just as much as the rest of you, but, as you can see, we don't know yet." She pointed at her mane of golden hair, which had been tied and the base of her neck to keep from bothering her.

"Kagome probably changed, as Tenshik's reaction to my being in danger." Sesshomaru said quietly.

Kagome nodded, "That's probably true, but then that would mean, wouldn't that mean I have her soul?"

Silence.

"Well then what do we do now?" Miroku asked.

He received no answer.

***

Inu-Yasha had stalked out of the room shortly after the uncomfortable quiet began. He was obviously fuming. Kagome had as a guess as to why, but it seemed utterly ridiculous. 'Could he be jealous?" She thought, and realized that however absurd it might seem, it was just like him.

She was now trying to come to terms with her new change of appearance by discussing it lightly with Sango over a cup of tea. Sango had become her therapist nowadays.

"So, what did happen to Kagura?" She asked.

"Well, you were glowing, and, the light got really bright for a second, and then, the next instant, she was gone, along with all of her demons."

"That's it?" Kagome sputtered, expecting some sort of epic battle while she was in her trance.



Sango nodded, "Mmhm."

"Well at least there are some perks with this deal." Kagome said, turning her newly tan hand over and over.



"Pardon me?"

"Never mind."

Sango set her cup down. They were presently back in Kagome's room. It was a just a few hours after the conference. Once Inu-Yasha had stormed out, Sesshomaru had turned to all of them, telling them to return to their rooms, saying that he would look into the matter himself. They had all complied a little reluctantly, but trusted him nonetheless. Kagome had asked if Sango might stay and chat with her, and after a few wrong turns and a helpful run in with a servant on the way, they finally found their way back.

Kagome thought back to their meeting with the vassal. Of course they had stopped for directions, and to send for tea, but the way the servant had treated her was so... Eerie.

The small woman had been the height and build of Keade, and she had long, gray hair tied with a blue sash behind her head.

Her small green eyes had widened considerably at the sight of Kagome, and she had immediately gotten down on her knees and bowed to her. Kagome had stepped back a little, and explained their request.

The woman had nodded many times throughout. She then waited patiently on the ground, however, until Kagome finally caught on and gave the dismissal command. The servant had shuffled away then, arms flailing as she shouted down the halls something in an outlandish tongue that neither Kagome nor Sango could recognize.

Kagome had discerned "Tenshik" from the jumbled noise though.

"Kagome-chan?" Sango asked timidly over her tea.

"Yes?"

"Are you frightened?"

Kagome froze and stared at her friend for a moment. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," she began, "What if you're stuck like this forever?"

The thought hadn't occurred to Kagome before. What if she WAS stuck looking like Tenshik forever? What would her family say? Would they accept her again? She laughed bitterly, "I think I'll live."

"And, what about Inu-Yasha?"

Another question mark. Kagome was just a little nervous now. "I don't have a clue what to do with him. I can't tell if I should talk to him or not."

"I think you should." Sango said with finality.

Kagome flinched. "And why do you say that?"

"Well, he's very upset. Shouldn't you at least try and be friends with him again?"

She scowled. "We weren't friends in the first place." Even as she said it, Kagome knew it wasn't true. So did Sango.

"Come on now, I saw the way you were looking at him when he had the gash across his throat."

She blushed. "Oh come off it." She playfully shoved Sango a bit, and they laughed happily. Kagome hadn't realized it yet, but this change, whatever had done this to her, it had relieved her mind greatly.

After settling down a bit, Kagome sighed deeply while looking up at the ceiling. "You're right Sango-chan. I hate to admit it, but I have to talk to Inu-Yasha."

***

Kagome and Sango stood in front of Inu-Yasha's door.

Kagome's arms were wrapped around her yellow bag, which she had happily discovered lying in her room when she returned to it. Sango eyed it suspiciously, wondering what Kagome could be planning.

"Do you want me to come with you Kagome-chan?"

She shook her head. "You had better stay clear, he could become violent."

Sango nodded and patted her friend on the shoulder. "Good luck, Kagome-chan." With that, she turned and left. Kagome's eyes remained fixed on the door apprehensively, and after a moment's pause, she drew a deep breath, and balancing her bag on precariously on one arm, rapped on the door.

"Inu-Yasha," she called, "Can I come in?"

She thought she heard a muffled, "feh," and then a bit of scrambling. Presently, the door slid open, and Inu-Yasha's face was scowling at her. "What do you want?"

"Catch." Kagome said shortly, and she threw her bag at him, which he caught deftly, giving her enough time to slip past him.

Surprisingly, his room was very clean, and she had no trouble finding a place to set her luggage down once she had lifted it from Inu-Yasha's grip. Without a word, Kagome began sifting through the contents of her knapsack, pulling out various items now and then.

"What do you think you're do-" He stopped abruptly as Kagome lifted a package of instant noodles from the bag, smiling triumphantly.

He sat down beside her, looking sulky, "I know what you're trying to do."

"You do huh?" She didn't look at him, but began cooking the food over her hot pan in the middle of the room.

"Yes. You're trying to win me over with those noodles. Well it's not going to work." He sniffed a bit and stuck his nose in the air.

"It's not, is it?" Kagome said, and she started to stir the contents of the styrofoam cup slowly. "Well we'll see about that. They say the way quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach."

He sniffed again. "Is not."

"Is to," she said automatically. "Besides, as I recall, it was only yesterday that you confessed youre love to me. What's changed Inu-Yasha?"

He flinched, and his eyes grew wide.

"Here," she passed the noodles to him, and he took them wordlessly. At first, he just stared at her, but with a sharp glance on her part, he immediately began to eat.

As he ate, Kagome took advantage of the fact that he couldn't speak while stuffing his face. "Now Inu-Yasha, I want you to listen to me for a minute."



He looked like he was going to say something, but her cold glare willed him otherwise. "This isn't easy to say. But, I don't think this is the time."

He looked confused. Kagome hesitated, "I'm not ready Inu-Yasha. I don't want to spoil our friendship." She twiddled her thumbs, she was saying this all very fast in an effort to get it over with quickly.

Inu-Yasha just about choked on his mouthful of noodles, but she continued. "Please, you're my friend, I care about you, but I can't handle a relationship right now, let alone love!" His face scrunched up, he looked hurt.

"Inu-Yasha, you're my dear, dear, friend. For now, I want it to stay that way." He still looked crushed.

Kagome whimpered, it was like staring down a puppy that had just been kicked. "Oh but don't get me wrong! I mean, maybe someday, it could work out..."

He brightened immediately. Not bothering to finish chewing, he said through his noodles, "Tho yor thaying thare's ah thance!" Kagome paused for a moment to decipher his words, and then began to rush into speech again.

"Oh, well, don't, um, take it too far, you know... Please?" He looked indescribably proud and ambitious, and she couldn't help but laugh.

"What's so funny?" The half demon inquired after he had swallowed.

"Never mind," she giggled, "Let's just be friends for now, okay?"

He folded his arms grudgingly, "Fine."

'Oh great,' Kagome thought, still smiling, 'I've just created another Kouga.'

***

Sango had knocked timidly on the door, and entered with an uneasy look. She had found Inu-Yasha and Kagome sitting just like old pals. Kagome had been stirring some instant noodles, while Inu-Yasha had sat cross legged on the ground, holding one of Kagome's magazines upside down, a few pages scattered like leaves around the room.

Kagome had invited her to sit down, though Sango had looked a little worried. Seeing this, Kagome had reassured her that everything was cleared up, and she relaxed a bit.

Now, after a few minutes of quiet, she decided that conversation might be welcome. Besides, she had been sent for a reason anyway.

"Kagome-chan, Sesshomaru sent me." Inu-Yasha's eyes became visible over the edge of the magazine, Kagome stopped stirring and looked at her friend questioningly.

"He said that tomorrow, you were going to go with him, to visit Tenshik's grave." The hairs stood up on the back of Kagome's neck.

She dropped the spoon with which she had been stirring the pasta, and said in a quavering voice, "What could he possibly think that will solve?"

"He wouldn't let me ask questions."

"Idiot. Never could handle a situation." The hanyou said.

"Must run in the family." Kagome muttered.

"At least my soul isn't constantly being sought after by dead women."

"Zip it dog boy, there's a reason for people not wanting your soul."

"You know, according to this, this thing of yours, this is a ne-ne-gative, environ...ment for me."

"I wasn't aware you could read."

"Better than you can," his eyes peeked back to the magazine, and his mouth twisted into a wicked grin, "dumb blonde."

"OSUWARI!!!"

"#$%@#@$!!!"

***

Ahh... Yeah, that's it. Nine pages, that's pretty good. See ya next time kids!!!