Hidy! Ok, even though most will prolly just skip through the author's notes (I know I do sometimes), but I had to say thanks! Everyone has been really receptive to this idea! I'm so proud. I intend to update more quickly, but I had a 12pg ethics paper to write, so that why there's been a fairly big delay. I also had to think up a plot . . . gasp! Hey, I wasn't gonna rack my brain for something half-way original if there was a chance that ya'll (yes I'm from Texas, deal with the accent) were gonna say it wasn't worth my effort to continue. So here goes!

Any Scene changes are depicted like: IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

"spoken words"

'thoughts'

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters in this story; I just enjoy messing with them in really twisted ways! evil grin

Enchanted Orbs

Chapter 2 How to hide magic

Kagome awoke the next morning with the sun streaming into her eyes. The leaves above her rustled as the wind sent a refreshing breeze across her face. A beautiful feeling was in her heart as she came into consciousness. She couldn't really describe it but she knew it was going to be a good day. The sun had just risen above the horizon, and everyone was preparing for the coming day.

Miroku and Sango were ready to go as Kagome began readying her pack.

"Why do you always have to be the last one ready to go? What, do you intentionally try to slow us down?" Inuyasha bit out.

Kagome dropped her head; as Inuyasha began to wonder if what he said was harsher than usual, he saw Kagome smirk. Kagome, her hair still hiding her eyes, calmly said, "Sit boy," and began to walk toward Sango and Miroku with her pack slug over her shoulder.

"What was that for!" He yelled as he pulled himself off the ground.

Kagome casually turned and, with a brilliant smile, replied. "It really is too beautiful of a morning to have it ruined by your mouth."

Shippo burst out laughing as Sango and Miroku tried to fight back a grin at the hanyou's expense. The group began their travels into the mountains. They knew it would be a long trip, but Naraku had become harder and harder to find, and the jewel shards were traveling away from our favorite hunters.

Kagome smiled as she realized how in tune she was with her power. She could always feel something below the surface, but it was never something she could intentionally reach. The writhing mass of energy would just come when she desperately needed it. When all else failed and everyone was in danger, the power was just there, waiting for her.

But now, she could feel it and consciously move it, and Kagome could also sense the shards in a much wider radius and could also tell what powers the shard had bestowed on its owners. It was almost as if she could communicate with the shards, or read the energy they emitted. 'This is going to be great! I'll actually be able to help my friends instead of just sitting on the sidelines shooting arrows!'

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Sesshoumaru and his faithful followers reached the spring Kagome occupied the previous night. It was late in the afternoon as the taiyoukai started investigating the area. He knew this was the place that the light display originated from because of the electric smell of magic that haunted the spring. The distinct scent, which was strongly like the smell in the air before a powerful thunderstorm, overwhelmed his senses.

'The smell of magic is too strong; it is overpowering any hint of the scent of the creature responsible for the power surge and light show last night. One thing is definite; whatever is the cause of this is very strong. Of course they are not a threat to me or my lands, but perhaps this situation needs to be investigated.'

As his thoughts came to a conclusion, he looked over at Rin. She was practically begging him for an explanation with big, pouty eyes. 'Kami, I hate it when she uses that face.' He thought, disgusted at even that minute amount of control that she can exert on him.

"The lights seen last night are the product of a powerful sorcerer. Although he is no rival to my abilities, I have never seen nor heard anything about the recent rise of a new magical being. I wish to know how this creature has escaped my knowledge. Jaken, set up camp for the evening, I need to investigate more. Rin stay with Ah-Un." With that Sesshoumaru turned and began a more thorough investigation.

He stepped out of the clearing occupied last night by Kagome. Once he broke the tree line of the spring, when the scent of magic wasn't as devastating, he had to suppress a growl. 'My idiot half brother stayed near here last night. I wonder if he was intelligent enough to realize he was in danger. No, most likely not. I wonder, maybe one of his companions were responsible for . . . no, I have met them in battle. Not one of those is strong enough to cause this kind of disturbance.' With that he realized he would not find more information about the previous evening and returned to his company.

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After a tiring day of hiking, Inuyasha and the gang set up camp at sundown. Kagome retired to her own thoughts. 'Today was uneventful, no shards and only one encounter with an unfriendly group of bandits. Maybe I should be doing something productive; let's see, I need to make dinner.

After everyone was fed Kagome and Sango went to bathe in a nearby stream. "No hotsprings tonight, oh well, I guess the stream will have to do. Hey, Kagome I meant to ask you today, but it slipped my mind. The guys and I saw something really strange last night. Did you notice anything out of the ordinary?" Sango asked as they undressed and walked out into the water.

The question caught Kagome by surprise, and she was not sure how to answer. Should she tell the gang now or wait until her skills were at top form and shock them? 'Hmm, that could be fun, I'll show them when I'm good with my new powers.' Hiding a smirk, Kagome replied, "No Sango, I really didn't notice anything out of the ordinary, but then again I had my eyes closed most of the time. I was pretty tired; in fact, I almost fell asleep against the rocks. What did you see?"

"Oh I guess it was nothing, just some lights in the sky. White lights were raining down over the horizon not far from where we were camped." Sango had a troubled look on her face as she explained. Kagome assumed she was trying to figure out what caused the scene she was describing.

"How strange, maybe it will happen again tonight. I would love to see that." With that both girls became silent with their own thoughts. 'Ok there is definitely a problem, how am I going to hone my skills if everyone can see them. This is bad. Maybe I need to talk to Miroku about the various types of barriers; I believe he talked once about an invisibility shield. What about an illusion spell? I know they exist, but could it solve my problem? If done correctly I'm sure one or the other could help me. Ok, that's settled; tomorrow Miroku will teach my how to cast either an illusion spell or an invisibility barrier.'

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Sesshoumaru waited all during the evening for the slightest smell of magic. He was determined to find out what was the cause of the events of the previous evening. 'I will find him. Either I shall deem him worthy of being under my service or he shall perish. A sorcerer as powerful as he could be a dangerous weapon, I will not allow such power to roam free. It may be used against me someday if my enemies harness this man.'

But Sesshoumaru waited in vain because no such magic surfaced that night.

Sorry, this chapter was pretty boring, but I had to set things up. I'm afraid I'm moving through the story too quickly. Oh well, I guess this means I just have to think up some wicked twists to incorporate. Hee hee hee, this could be fun. Hope you liked it and I promise the next chapter will be more exciting.