Disclaimer: See all the other chapters.

A/N: Well, see, the devil called me yesterday (yes, I'm on speaking terms with Satan, his name is Forrest and he's one of my best friends) and said something about a politician telling the truth, so hell had frozen over, and why didn't I update while the condition lasted? Oddly enough, I've had this one written for a while. I just never got around toposting it. Sorry. Umm... Anyhow, a Christmas present for you all (since I think I haven't updated this since before last Christmas). And for the record: I didn't say which Christmas Day! Heh, yeah, I know. Anyhow...

Testing, Testing, One Two Three

"Spirit detective?" Kagome's voice was puzzled.

"It's like... law enforcement for demons," Koenma began, but he was cut off by Yusuke.

"Wait. I only got to be one after I died. How'd she get the job?"

Koenma thought for a minute. "Well, in the Feudal Era, she is dead. That is, she hasn't been born so she doesn't exist. Plus she's a reincarnation..."

Inuyasha, who'd been involved in a staring contest with Hiei (Hiei was winning), turned to Koenma. "Now, look, baby..."

"Excuse me." Kagome brushed past him. "I need to finish getting ready for school." She went back into the house. Inuyasha, with an impatient look in her direction, went back to yelling at Koenma. Keiko, though, followed her in concern.

She found Kagome sitting on the stairs, head in her hands. "Kagome, are you alright?"

Kagome looked up and smiled sadly. "I guess I was just hoping that whatever this thing was, it had nothing to do with Kikyou."

"Kikyou?"

"Remember how I said you were lucky that Yusuke wasn't in love with a reanimated dead girlfriend?" Keiko nodded. "Well, Inuyasha has Kikyou. Even though she's dead, he can't get over her long enough to see that I'm in love with him. And to make it worse, some witch brought her body back to life and it ended up with just enough of the soul we share that she's walking around trying to get him to come to hell with her."

"Wow, and I thought I had it bad." Keiko smiled. "Come on. School day, remember?"

"Ok, class. We have some temporary students here. Their school is the one that was recently damaged in the gas explosion, so they'll be having class with us." The teacher gestured Kurama, Yusuke, Keiko, Botan, and Kuwabara forward to empty seats.

At first, there was general male interest in Keiko, Botan, and Kurama. Then it was discovered that Kurama was, in fact, a boy, and a group of girls started a Kurama fan club. Yusuke discouraged interest in Keiko with death glares, so in the end, Botan was the only girl to gain a large group of smitten followers. Kagome instantly became the most popular girl in class; all the guys wanted introductions to Botan and all the girls wanted introductions to Kurama.

She ate lunch with them, and they teased and harassed each other until Kagome couldn't stop laughing. For someone who hadn't really gone to school in months, this was wonderful. By the end of the day she'd forgotten all about being a spirit detective, Kikyou, and the jewel.

Of course, when she got back to the shrine, the small child (apparently some sort of interdimensional boss) reminded her.

"I need to test to see how powerful you are."

"No 'Hello, how was your day?'" Kagome dumped her backpack on her bed. He was outside her window again.

"No. It's imperative that we find out how powerful you are."

She glared at Koenma, hands on her hips. "I won't do anything until I get to test the demons."

He rolled his eyes. "Fine. Come outside when you're ready."

"Will this hurt?" Yukina had volunteered to go first, and, after much arguing, Hiei was letting her.

Kagome frowned. "According to my teacher, no. Then again, Inuyasha wouldn't let me practice on him, so I can't be sure."

"I trust you." Yukina's quiet voice cut off any protests Hiei would have made. "What do you want me to do?"

"Just sit still, please." Kagome raised one hand and placed it, palm forward, about an inch from Yukina's heart. Her other hand mimicked it, hovering over her forehead. Concentrating the way Kaede had taught her, her hands began to glow pink, and then...

She wasn't sitting anymore. She was standing in a blizzard, being buffeted by snow.

She could see Yukina sitting in front of her, in the same position she'd been when they'd begun this. Kagome opened her mouth, but the words that came out where not hers.

"Greetings, young one."

Yukina smiled serenely up at her. "Hello. May I inquire as to who you are?"

"My name is Midoriko. My heart and soul became the Shikon Jewel, so when Kagome purified parts of it, I became once more alive, for lack of a better term." It was Kagome's voice, but it was full of a wisdom gained over many years of study. Kagome's body took a step forward and knelt before Yukina. "I can see that you will be of great service to my bearer. But oh, young one, what suffering you've been through. Will you permit me to assist with your problem? As a payment for services you will provide."

"You may."

Kagome's hands arranged themselves the way they had been at the beginning. Her hands glowed again, and a silver chain appeared around Yukina's neck. From it hung a large blue jewel that shone faintly.

"As long as you wear that," said Midoriko, "It will store the energy your body usually uses to make jewels of your tears. Only you can remove it of your own free will, so you have control of it. It'll keep that power until it's needed, and then you or someone else can draw on it. Do not use it lightly; your brother will have need of it one day."

Before she could blink, Kagome was thrown out of Yukina's mind, back into her own body. She ended up lying on her back, hands blue and painfully cold.

Inuyasha, of course, went ballistic. "What did you do to her?" He glared at Yukina.

Kagome frowned and sat up gingerly. "She didn't do anything. It's not her fault her mind is full of snow."

Yukina leaned forwards. "Here, allow me." Her hands covered Kagome's, and when Kagome pulled hers back, they were normal again. Kagome smiled and clapped her hands together.

"Ok, who's next?"

Hiei stepped (or was pushed by Kurama) forward. Glaring at his fox friend, he came to stand in front of Kagome. "Get it over with, girl."

"No need to be so testy." Kagome raised her hands again and found herself in a totally black environment. Black as in, pitch black. Though it was oppressively warm, Kagome couldn't actually see anything.

"So, what exactly did you do to..." Hiei's voice drifted ominously out of the darkness, but Midoriko cut him off.

"Your sister? I did nothing, except provide the means for her to be able to cry without fear."

And then Kagome could see him, sitting on a rock five feet or so ahead of her.

"Well, have you seen enough, girl?"

"Girl?" Kagome felt herself throw back her head and laugh. "I haven't been a girl in many years. Child, I would have thought you were smarter than that. I am no more Kagome than Kurama is Youko.:

He glared, then spoke in a voice dripping with sarcasm. "I know who you are. Are we finished, or do I need to jump through a flaming hoop first?"

"Will you allow me to grant you payment for the aid you will give my bearer?"

"What exactly does that entail?" Hiei was suspicious. He'd seen the dog demon's "collar".

"Freedom from the physical weakness of your third eye. I can move it to another plane, directly overlaid with your body so it functions as always, without actually being on you."

"I think I'll pass."

"Very well." And Kagome found herself thrown out of Hiei's mind as well.

"Inuyasha, SIT." Kagome's instincts had been right. Inuyasha was lunging for Hiei. When he went crashing to the ground, Kagome moved to kneel next to his head.

"You don't get to keep attacking my friends, Inuyasha."

"Well, you shouldn't let them stay here."

"I'm not going to kick them out because you don't like it. Deal with it."

He frowned, but seemed to get the message. Kagome turned to Kurama. "Do you mind?"

He smiled in a way that made Inuyasha's teeth clench. "Not at all." Kagome lifted her hands again and was suddenly in Kurama's mind.

It was split down the middle. The left side was a lush jungle, full of exotic plants. The right was a well tended garden. In the middle, standing on either side of the border (which was formed by a wide, fast moving river), were Kurama and someone who could only be Youko. He was tall, with long silver hair, gold eyes, and a silver tail.

Kagome waited for Midoriko to begin, and it wasn't a long wait.

"You both realize that this is REALLY bad for your sanity, right?"

Kurama nodded, but Youko wasn't so kind. "Of course, girl. If you have nothing more to say, remove yourself from our mind before I kill you."

Midoriko laughed. "I remember you. Trust me, fox, you don't want to try that. Now," she turned to Kurama, "you will be little use to my bearer as you are now. Your magic is powerful, yes, and quite adequate for this era, but as he can tell you, nothing to that of say, the demon lord Sesshomaru. Will you accept my help in payment for the help you will provide?"

Kurama bowed. "I would be honored."

Midoriko cast a glance at Youko. "You'd do well to take manners lessons from this one. It's easier to steal things if people trust you, you know." She shrugged. "Oh well. Well, I can only do one thing for you." Kagome's right hand came up and traced a line from right to left and back again. There was a flash of light, and when it faded there was a wide bridge arching high over the water. "You can now access Youko's memories and his powers. In a way, you're one again. Be prepared for the potential ramifications, thought. Unless you're careful, he can use you as well, and so you might start to pick up some of his more... endearing personality traits." Kagome bowed low, and then she was back in her own body at the shrine.

A/N: Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, whatever floats your boat! Review, please.