Disclaimer: The song in this chapter is Reflection by Christina Aguilera.
Kagome sat in front of her mirror looking at her reflection, the concealment spell still in place. Had Sesshoumaru seen her as a demon? She was certain she saw his eyes narrow. But at what, she did not know. He had said nothing after the concert.
Slowly, she stretched her hand towards the glass and her mirror image reached out to meet it. Kagome released her disguise as her fingers touched the smooth surface. For that was all her human appearance was now: a disguise, a cover, a mask.
Kagome stared at her demon self, who she truly was. She admitted to herself that she was afraid of how the others would react when they found out—for her slip-up during the performance had proved to her that they would someday find out. She also worried that they would be angry that she had not told them sooner. Each day she kept her secret hidden she became more nervous about their reactions.
"But this is me." She saw the lips of her reflection move, but the words came from her mouth, spoken in her voice.
- - - - - - -
"Hey, Kagome. Any new songs?" Sango inquired during their break at Tuesday's practice session. Miroku had been right. Kagome had had no trouble at school that day. "Maybe one that you sing?" she added suggestively.
"Yeah, I've got one, but—"
"Great! Let's go try it out," Sango declared, pulling Kagome out of her seat in the kitchen and dragging her out the door. "Come on, you guys!" she called over her shoulder before the two disappeared from sight.
"Um, what I was trying to say before is that it's only got a single bass accompaniment," Kagome said once they were assembled.
"Very well," Sesshoumaru said monotonously. "Miroku will play piano, as per our agreement, and I shall play the bass part." He held out a hand expectantly.
"Uh, okay." She gave Sesshoumaru and Miroku their music, adjusting the keyboard setting for the effect she wanted. When she passed Inuyasha his piece, she smiled apologetically. "Sorry, it's a slow song."
Much to her surprise, he only shrugged and muttered a 'Feh'.
"Need backup, Kagome?" Sango inquired. Kagome shook her head. "Okay. It's more fun to watch you sing, anyway." She took a seat in the audience along with Kouga and Kagura.
Kagome took the uncomfortable position at the front of the stage, standing before the main microphone. The very place Kikyo stood so many times before.
Forcing aside all thoughts of her cousin, Kagome nodded at Miroku to begin. The piano began, soft and soothing. Kagome's voice was just as calming when she began.
Look at me
You may think you see
Who I really am
But you'll never know me
Every day
It's as if I play a part
Now I see
If I wear a mask
I can fool the world
But I cannot fool my heart
Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
I am now
In a world where I
Have to hide my heart
And what I believe in
But somehow
I will show the world
What's inside my heart
And be loved for who I am
Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me?
Why is my reflection
Someone I don't know?
Must I pretend that I'm
Someone else for all time?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
There's a heart that must be
Free to fly
That burns with a need to know
The reason why
Why must we all conceal
What we think, how we feel?
Must there be a secret me
I'm forced to hide?
I won't pretend that I'm
Someone else for all time
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
Her audience was in awe. Kagome had sung before, but they had only glimpsed the range of her voice when compared to what her newest song revealed.
And her song revealed much. Sesshoumaru ended practice early, citing no reason. Kagome, like he expected, was the last to depart as was usual. He stopped her before she could leave.
"Kagome." She turned to face him. He could sense she was faintly worried. What was she hiding?
At the concert the night before, he had locked his gaze with hers. He wanted her to know that she was the only one he wanted to sing those words to. But something altered as he looked into her eyes. The brown had flickered to an unnatural purple before the irises regained the chocolate color he knew. The change had been so fleeting, he was not certain that he had not fallen prey to a deception of the lighting.
But her new song confirmed that he had seen something, something significant.
"Kagome, who are you inside?" Sesshoumaru inquired calmly, using the song to form his question.
"Wh-what? What are you talking about, Sesshoumaru?" Kagome asked in response, trying her hardest to keep her voice steady.
"Do not feign ignorance, Kagome. I know your songs are a product of inspiration from your own experiences. Now, what mask are you wearing?" he said, again referencing the lyrics.
At that moment, Kagome was tempted to reveal herself just to spite him. She knew he would not expect to she her as a demon, and she would revel in his shock. Instead, though, she replied ardently, "What of your mask, Sesshoumaru? Would you show me what is behind yours?"
Momentarily, he was surprised at how she had twisted the conversation to target him, and was at a loss for words. "Perhaps I would. You have never asked. Why are you avoiding my questions?"
Kagome bit back a tart response as a sudden thought occurred to her. She avoided his questions because she did not want anyone to know her secret. But they were alone. Had he… sent everyone home early just so he could talk to her? She had wanted to reveal her secret; her fear was her only impediment. Now, Sesshoumaru wanted to know, had taken steps to make her comfortable with telling him. He could have ordered her to tell him, threatened her, but he had not…
"Promise you won't tell anyone," she murmured.
Again, she shocked him. He had expected another defying remark. "Very well. You have my word."
He first noticed that her scent became intoxicatingly stronger. Her aroma of lavender and chamomile had always been pleasant, but faint, because she was human. Now, though, it was amplified, and laced with the undeniable power of both a miko and demon.
She had turned her head away from him, and he saw that her raven hair had gained a blue tint. Kagome had not worn her arm warmers because the scars had disappeared, and he now knew how they had healed so fast. Her wrists had gained stripes similar to his. He found himself wanting to discover where else she had gained markings.
When he touched her cheek with the pads of his fingers, she looked at him, startled at the contact. Her eyes were lavender, as he had somewhat predicted. What he had not anticipated was the half sun on her forehead.
"You are heir to the Eastern Lands," he stated. Kagome nodded slightly.
She was an elemental demon, thought to be extinct since the unexplained vanishing of the Lord of the Eastern Lands—Kagome's father.
Suddenly the demoness before him was gone, and Kagome was human in appearance again. "Remember," she said, "you promised." And then she was gone.
Sesshoumaru could tell by her voice that she was not content with herself. Questions swirled in his mind, questions that he wanted answer to. Why keep her demon form a secret? Did she not like it? When had she become a demon? How had she become a demon?
More than answers, though, he wished to reassure her. He wanted to tell her that he thought she looked more beautiful than she did as a human; that she was the same Kagome he had known for years; that he was honored she had shared her secret with him.
But when she had stood before him, he had been too enraptured to search for the right words.
She had extracted an oath from him that her secret remain unknown, and he would respect it. If her song were anything to judge by, she would not be hiding forever. He anticipated the day that he would see her in her true form again.
- - - - - -
Kagome returned home doubting her decision to reveal herself to Sesshoumaru. But he was principled, if nothing else, and so she knew he would keep his promise. She could do nothing about her choice now, anyway.
What he had said about her father was true. Between her mother and her father's journals, Kagome had learned that her father had been of a rare race known as elemental demons. They were in tune with the power of nature, which was probably why she had been able to retain her miko abilities, but they had a more predatory aspect to their demeanor.
Her father had left his post as Lord of the Eastern Lands long ago, and wandered the earth as a human. Neither her mother nor the diaries provided a precise, plausible explanation for his abandonment of his position. He had left her mother because watching her grow old and die would have been too painful for the both of them. And her mother refused to release her hanyou blood and suffer the same fate of watching her family and friends wither away while she remained relatively unchanged.
Where her father was now, neither Kagome nor her mother knew. Perhaps he was still wondering. One day, Kagome hoped to search for him.
That Sesshoumaru knew of her father had not surprised her. Sesshoumaru was, after all, heir to the Western Lands.
Kagome sighed as she entered her house and announced her arrival. She retreated to her room and began her homework, wondering what trials tomorrow would bring—other than the history exam she had to study for.
cuttie-blossom: I am sorry to hear about your show. Endings can be very saddening. I'm glad that my update helped to brighten your day some. Thank you for the review!
Do a DAMN GOOGLE SEARCH: Seven and a half hours would have been about 3:30 in the morning, which I am not always adverse to doing, but I was tired that day. Well, you have at least this chapter to read once you return, and maybe more. Thanks for reviewing!
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LadyRedEyes: I read the lyrics and it sounds interesting. I have wanted that CD for a while but have not been able to get a hold of it. Anyway, I will certainly keep it in mind while writing. I am also interested in the story you mentioned. I hope you enjoyed the carnival. Thanks for reviewing!
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Elegant Enchantress: This chapter answered the first two of your questions, I think. I have not decided how prominent I want Kouga to be in this story, yet, so I am leaving him somewhat in the background until I can decide. A second incident may or may not occur—I do not want to give away too much. And I had no plans of adding Naraku into the story, but I am seriously tempted just because of the mental image your question gave me, lol. Thank you so much for your review!
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