Author's Note: Yet again, sorry for the late update! Enjoy chapter 16 and please review! Let's see if Mirrored can get 100 reviews by chapter 20!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to or affiliated with Inuyasha, however this particular story is M-I-N-E! :)

Attention Grabber

"Hey, is it just me or is lately…um…Sesshomaru being more…protective with me…or something?"

Kikyou and Sango exchanged glances as the three soaked in a natural spring a little ways away from their camp.

"Hehe, why would you think that?" Sango furrowed her eyebrows and gave her an odd smile.

"Well, it's like he's always there when I get clumsy and fall, or when he smells a youkai he immediately stands in front of me, and…well, you know." Kagome blushed and cast her eyes down.

"Yeah, I've noticed it too," Kikyou spoke up and gave her a serious look. "It might just be me, but you seem to be the focus of his attention, and he takes any opportunity he gets to be the focus of yours, too."

"R-really? I don't think…he's not…does he really get my attention?"

Kikyou and Sango exchanged another look before both replied, "Yes."

Kagome blushed even brighter and sunk down deeper into the water, avoiding the other two's eyes.

"You too, Sango." Kikyou turned back to the older woman.

"Huh?" Sango looked shocked, but a flush was slowly creeping on her face.

"You definitely have the hots for Miroku!" Kikyou grinned naughtily.

"I-I do not!" Sango blushed furiously, and Kagome started laughing.

"Haha! Yes you do! And I'm certain he likes you too!" Kagome smiled sweetly.

"How would you know that?" Sango fisted her hands in a look of defiance.

"Because you like each other in my world too! It's destiny!" Kagome threw her hands up in the air in a dramatic fashion.

"B-but…I…Ugh!" Sango covered her face with her hands, and both Kagome and Kikyou continued laughing. "Well what about you Kikyou! There's got to be someone you're attracted to!" Sango said, pushing the conversation away from her.

"Not a chance! I guess I'm the only female around here with some sense!" Kikyou responded haughtily.

"Oh please! You're totally gonna fall for Inuyasha! I bet you've got a crush on him now, don't you?!"

"W-what?!" Kikyou gasped, but that all familiar blush started creeping up her neck, too.

"Oh ho! Guess I was right! Destiny prevails again!" Kagome threw her hands up in the air again.

"That is totally besides the point. There is no way I would fall for an annoying demon like him!" Kikyou threw her nose in the air and turned away. "He's rude, he's arrogant, he's—"

"Hot?" Kagome grinned mischievously at the flustered Kikyou. "Yeah, he's all those things, but he's also compassionate, loyal, and a wonderful friend. Once upon a time…I loved him, too." Kagome's eyes took on a faraway look, and a small tear escaped down her cheek, before she quickly swiped it away.

Kikyou and Sango exchanged a worried glance before the two placed a reassuring hand on her shoulders.

"I'm sorry," Kikyou said sadly.

"No, it's fine," Kagome looked up at the sky and breathed in a sigh. "It's in the past now, but that doesn't mean I'll stop being his friend. More importantly, I hope he's not too worried about my disappearance. I need to find a way to tell him that I'm alright."

"Don't worry Kagome, I'm sure we will figure something out," Sango nodded.

"Yeah, when we get back to Sota's village, I'll go home immediately and see if I can figure out more about that mirror," Kikyou smiled reassuringly.

"Thanks you two. I really appreciate the support," Kagome returned the smile.

"Though I wonder if Sesshomaru will allow you to leave," Sango pondered.

"Oh please don't say things like that! If that was a joke, it wasn't funny at all!"

xxx

(Back in Kagome's World Part 2!)

"I'm getting really worried Inuyasha. It has been a week and Kagome is still not back yet," Sango looked up at the hanyou worriedly.

Miroku sipped his tea and sighed. "Though I believe women should be given time to…organize their thoughts, I too am getting worried. Kagome's duty and loyalty always triumph over her feelings, and this is the longest she has been gone in a while."

Inuyasha continued to pace in the tiny hut then grumbled, "Yeah, yeah I hear ya! I'll drag he back by her hair if I haveta!"

Why the hell is she taking this long! It's not like this was the first time she's seen me and Kikyou together! Damn it you stupid woman!

Inuyasha stopped in his tracks, ears flattening. What if she hates me? Would she really give this up… give us up…because of me? He gritted his teeth and shook his head, then bounded out the door without another word to his friends and headed for the well. Whatever was happening with Kagome, he was sure they could work it out.

Inuyasha vaulted over the well as the familiar power tug sent him 500 years into the future. The minute he landed, he knew something was wrong.

Where…where's Kagome's sent? She's here right? She's gotta be here!

Faster than the human eye could detect, he was out the well and in the house panting hard as he frantically searched Kagome's room for any trace she had been there in the last few days. The door suddenly opened, and Mrs. Higurashi stepped in with a pile of folded clothes in her arms. Her eyes widened in brief surprise, before she gently smiled at the hanyou.

"Why, hello Inuyasha." She glanced around behind her before asking, "Is Kagome with you?"

"You mean…she's not here?!" Inuyasha asked frantically.

Mrs. Higurashi's eyebrows furrowed in concern and she replied, "I haven't seen her since the last time the two of you stayed for dinner. Is she alright?"

"Um…I'm sure she's fine," Inuyasha looked everywhere but at her.

"Inuyasha, tell me truthfully. Do you know where my daughter is?"

His ears drooped and he dropped his head. "No."

Mrs. Higurashi dropped the clothes and put one hand to her mouth as her eyes filled with tears.

"Don't worry, I'll find her! I swear to you I will find Kagome, and I'll bring her back safe!" Inuyasha rushed out in a flurry of red as Mrs. Higurashi crumpled to the floor and cried into her hands.

xxx

Sesshomaru sighed in contentment as he settled against a large tree, watching Rin run around Jakken with half closed lids. He slipped a hand in his haori and took out the mirror that Kagura had given him, pondering what to do with it.

I know that woman cannot be trusted, but what is so important about this mirror?

Rin appeared in front of him with big brown eyes fixed on the mirror in his hand.

"That's very pretty Sesshomaru-sama! May…May Rin see?" she asked shyly.

He handed the object to the young girl, who immediately ran over to show Jakken.

"Look Jakken-sama! Isn't it pretty?!" Rin skipped around him excitedly.

"It's just a mirror," he grumbled. "Hey! Be careful or you'll break it!"

"Sorry," Rin mumbled, picking up the small object from the grass. She starred into it, admiring her reflection, until her eyes became wide with wonder. Suddenly, her face showed a look of shock and horror, before tears began rolling down her cheeks and sobs escaped her throat.

Sesshomaru furrowed his eyebrows and beckoned the girl forward. He placed a reassuring hand on her head then took the mirror from her. He glanced at it to see what had made the girl so upset and found the disappearing image of an older Rin holding daggers and grinning wickedly as an image of himself knelt clutching his shoulder. The image suddenly changed, and Sesshomaru got a better view of himself in the mirror. It was like he was looking at a mixture of him and Inuyasha combined. Then his alter ego bent over and wrapped his arms around Inuyasha's wench!

Sesshomaru deftly dropped the mirror as it rolled on the ground. He starred after it with a look of shock, then turned to Rin who was watching him with wide eyes. "Never tell anyone of what you saw in that mirror," he said sternly. She nodded her head silently, then buried her face in his sleeve.

There is definitely something wrong with that mirror! I would never be so intimate with Inuyasha's wench, much less a human! No, what I should be wondering is why I looked like a hanyou!

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes and glared towards the sky. He would track Kagura down and find out what was going on. There were too many questions involving that mirror, and one way or another, Sesshomaru was determined to find out.

Other Author Note: Still working on that amv/trailer! I personally think it looks awesome so far...but that just might be me. -_-'