A/N: Greatest apologies! This is for Janice, who never left me and sent me a message telling me to write! Thanks for getting me back into action.

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"What's wrong with her?" The worried voice of Ruri drifted through her ears.

Kagome couldn't move any part of her body save for her eyes. Though being able to move them did not help her in the least. They moved side to side beneath her eyelids, seeing nothing but black and orange from the light from the ceiling above her still form. A sense of fatigue so strong washed over her unmoving body that she felt she could die. She was so still and unmoving that it hurt to experience it. Her muscles were tense from her constant attempts at movement and she could feel the burn of her quickly tiring muscles as she willed them into action.

She tried with all of her might to move her fingers, her toes, her mouth, anything to regain the semblance of life and living. After all of her efforts, she only became more tired than she had initially been when she'd regained her consciousness. Now, she slipped further into the cold grip of eternal sleep.

"I think she's in a coma," Keiseki said. Her voice was voided of emotion.

"How is that possible?" Sesshoumaru asked from the corner of the room.

He'd moved himself as far away from the miko as possible to protect himself and his sense of pride. It was unsettling to be around the ningen who made him lose control of his mind and body. This fact bothered him in a way he'd never experienced before. Never in his long life had he ever been faced with a person who could make him unwittingly do or say things that were out of character for him.

He worried for her, that was certain, but he knew not that the feelings he felt were called worry. He'd never bothered to examine emotions because, a long time ago, he'd had no use for such trivialities. His control had once been unbreakable.

Keiseki sighed and moved from Kagome's bed to the still form of Fujimaru, who was now lying, supine, on the floor. Her hands moved across his neck and down his arms to his wrists, picking them up and placing them on his stomach. She shifted his body so that he lay flat on the floor instead of twisted in the awkward position he'd been found in. She brushed the hair away from his face and raised an eyebrow critically before standing up.

She didn't face the others until two minutes of silence, but when she did; her face was different in a physical way they'd not been prepared for. They'd all seen the flashes of change in her before, but now, it seemed to have been a permanent change, one in which she could not revert back to her cheerful self.

Her eyes were silver and her skin a darker shade. There was something in her face that made her seem much older and more tired. Shippo took a step backward in his surprise, only to have Ruri and Muraki stare at him in question. They didn't know what was going on and were worried for their friend, who was lying, unmoving, on the floor.

None spoke for a while and Keiseki stared into Sesshoumaru's eyes with such a sense of tiredness and old wisdom that it was hard to believe that this was still the same Keiseki they'd become accustomed to.

"Sesshoumaru," she said. Even her voice, which had once been high pitched and energetic, had been changed. Now, it had a lower tone to it, as if she had grown slightly hoarse, and sounded something akin to the voice of a weary old woman.

"Kairin-san," Sesshoumaru said with impatience.

"You were told to stay with her," Keiseki turned toward Kagome's still form on the bed, and then glanced back toward Fujimaru before fixing themselves once more on the amber gaze of Sesshoumaru. "Something has gone wrong."

Sesshoumaru pushed from against the wall he'd been leaning on. His previously folded arms dropped to his sides and clenched so tightly it was a wonder why his palms weren't bleeding. The taiyoukai closed his eyes took in a deep breath and opened them once again.

"What has happened?"

Pale silver eyes moved slowly from Sesshoumaru's eyes to the body lying on the floor inches from her feet. "Look at that young man." A small smile appeared on her face, "doesn't he look familiar?"

Sesshoumaru walked toward the woman with impatience as the others stared at Fujimaru. Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow toward the woman, "No games, woman. What is it that you are talking about?"

"Have you no eyes with which to see!" Keiseki's voice raised only a margin, but Shippo, Ruri, Tori and Muraki all stiffened at the tone Keiseki's voice had taken.

Amber eyes narrowed and roamed over the body of Fujimaru. The youkai leaned forward slightly when a change in the man below caught his eyes.

"No," Sesshoumaru murmured and leaned down to brush at the hair at the man's temple. He wasn't replying to the woman's question, merely, speaking to himself in his utter disbelief. There, falling where human ears were seated, were silver strands of hair. Sesshoumaru pulled his hand back and looked downward toward the man's hands, of which had grown rather impressive claws. Sesshoumaru throat rumbled in a growl of fury as he gripped the man's jaw in his hand.

"What are you doing!" The outraged voice of Muraki called out from behind him.

Sesshoumaru's growl grew louder as he fixed it on the ningen who had interrupted his inspection. He bared his fangs at the now scared ningen. He was inwardly pleased at the paleness of the man's face and the hesitancy in his stance, but he was equally displeased with the fact that the man still seemed adamant in stopping him from touching Fujimaru further. Especially since the smell of fear radiated off of him in waves.

"Relax, ningen." He growled as he moved his gaze back toward Fujimaru's form. "I am only searching for clues to prove my suspicions. He will not be harmed."

Sesshoumaru's thumb brushed against Fujimaru's top lip and pressed upon it enough to lift it to reveal the man's teeth. Sesshoumaru then dropped his hands from the man, rubbing them on his pants with immense disgust. He stood up and regarded Keiseki with a frown of anger. "How is this happening? This was not supposed to happen!"

"What are you talking about!" Ruri called from her spot next to Shippo and Tori.

Tori looked confused and tugged on Ruri's sleeve as if for guidance. She glanced toward him with fondness and placed a hand on his, whispering something to him in English. The words seemed to have worked, for Tori seemed to be calmer and more curious than fearful.

"What have you done to Inuyasha-kun!" Ruri shouted toward Sesshoumaru. Seeming to have picked up her error, she gasped and covered her mouth in surprise. She shook her head and opened her mouth to correct herself when Keiseki raised her hand to silence her.

"It would seem that you are all turning into your former selves."

Muraki's eyes widened in surprise and glanced back and forth between the two youkai, the shocked form of Ruri and the lifeless Fujimaru. He was speechless, he had no idea what was going on. Their lives had been normal just two days ago, why was this happening?

"What do you mean? I don't feel any different!" Ruri said indignantly. She placed her hand over her stomach as if to verify that she was present and that she was indeed herself. The person she'd grown up to be. "You're telling me that since we've regained some memories that we're changing who we are!" Ruri seemed outraged and her anger seemed to worry Muraki and Tori.

Shippo stared into Keiseki's eyes, lost in the implications that came along with her change.

Shippo stepped forward until he was face to face with Keiseki. "Who are you?"

Keiseki's face smiled a sad smile. "She never told you? I'd have thought she'd tell you of all people." She shook her head slightly and her smile faded a fraction. "Even Sesshoumaru kept it from you, I fear."

Shippo's eyes hardened and he stood tall and proud. His stature was so similar to that of Sesshoumaru's that it was not difficult to tell who had raised him the majority of his life. His eyes betrayed his emotions, something Sesshoumaru hadn't been able to teach the kit to hide. His pride, however, kept him from going into wild hysterics at the loss of his friend. His gaze moved, cold as ice, to the form of Sesshoumaru in silent communication. We will finish this later, it seemed to say. A nod from the Lord was his only reply.

Muraki's body shifted in his desire to go to his friend, but he held back. Instead, he looked toward Sesshoumaru. "Why isn't he waking up?"

"Me and Ko-Tori-san, woke up sooner than Fuji-kun is…" Ruri added, but drifted off at the look Sesshoumaru gave her.

"It is because he's tur-"

"-Turning into a hanyou. Like his previous incarnation." Kairin interrupted Sesshoumaru's answer and narrowed her eyes at Ruri. "You! What is your current name?"

Ruri, obviously flustered, began to stutter nervously. "M-my-? W-why?"

Shippo sighed exasperatedly, "Just answer the question, please."

Ruri stood taller and squared her shoulders. "Ruri Watase."

"Hmm," Kairin rubbed Keiseki's chin in thought. "We will talk about this later. They might not be too far gone." She gestured to Ruri and Tori, "This one, however…" she glanced back at Fujimaru, "is beyond help."

A growl could be heard from the corner Sesshoumaru had managed to discreetly move to. Everyone ignored this as light began to pour from Kagome's fingertips and spread swiftly to engulf her body.

Silence permeated the crowded room as the glow around Kagome pulsed and faded before growing in intensity once more. Wide eyes watched as this repeated over and over again. The lights and energy caused everyone's body to tingle with the intensity of it. For the humans in the room, the hairs on their arms stood on end and they could feel energy pulsing through their bodies. Their pulses grew faster and their breathing slowed slightly. They were being mesmerized by the sight before them.

Tori broke the spell enough to look toward Ruri for an explanation but she was still held in the power of the unconscious girl before them. She was too entirely focused on what was going on to notice. Likewise, Muraki watched with intense scrutiny as Kagome's powers filled the room with an electric charge. A groan from the floor caused everyone's gazes to shift back to Fujimaru, who was now waking.

"I don't understand." Irritation and fear crawled across Fujimaru's face as he put down the mirror that had been handed to him. He was now sitting in the drawing room, surrounded yet again in odd objects that were unfamiliar to him.

Or were they?

His head ached and an extreme sense of loss fluttered in his heart. He didn't understand why he felt the way he did. He wanted to ask so many questions but the words wouldn't form correctly.

Fangs. His mind registered as he ran his tongue across his teeth. He picked up the mirror again, ignoring the oddities that were his fingernails as he looked into his reflection once more. He began to catalogue the differences in his features one by one. His eyes were hazel now, not the brown they had been before, and his hair had started turning gray. Well, not gray but white, and, of course, two long, sharp-looking fangs.

"I'm not a vampire, am I?" He whispered to himself.

A snort came from beside him and he glared at Shippo, who was leaning against one of the many bookcases with his arms crossed over his chest. He made a point of showing his teeth as he grinned at Fujimaru.

Before Fujimaru or Shippo could say anything to one another, an impatient voice called to them. "Stop," it said, "you're not helping matters by acting like children. We don't know what's happening to Kagome-sama and all you two are doing is goading one another."

"But I haven't done anything!" Fujimaru shouted, indignant, as he faced Muraki.

"That may be so," Muraki said with a chuckle.

"I'm afraid," the timid voice of Tori said from his seat on one of the armchairs. He was hugging his legs and looked way younger than he was as he rested his forehead against his knees. "I can't remember which life was which anymore."

"Tori-san," Muraki said in both surprise at the boy speaking and sadness at what said boy was going through. "You spoke in Japanese." Changing the subject effectively, "You can understand us now?" He decided not to broach the subject of his past life, thinking that it would be too much for the boy to have to talk about it. Especially to an almost complete stranger.

The boy nodded, his forehead brushing the material of his pants. He held his legs tighter and his shoulders stiffened. Muraki's eyes softened as he looked at the boy. Would it be safe for him to undergo what Ruri, Tori and now Fujimaru had done? Were curiosity and some rich man's reasoning enough to persuade him to let Kagome reawaken his previous incarnation?

Muraki closed his eyes and leaned against the wall for support. He didn't know the answers to the many questions he had. The problem was that the only person who could answer most of them was he himself. He was too confused and had too little information to make a decision yet, so he came to the silent conclusion that he would not awaken his memories just yet. His decision made, he focused on Fujimaru, studying his behavior to gauge his change from the friend he'd grown to love as a brother.

As Muraki's thoughts were being consumed by doubt and uncertainty, Fujimaru's thoughts were turning toward the same path.

Fujimaru stood up and walked over to the window and pulled the curtain enough for him to look out. The city glittered in the coming sunlight, the lights still on as the sun bled its way into the night sky. He wasn't tired and neither were any of the people in his company. None would be able to sleep until their storming thoughts were quieted and their questions finally answered.

He sighed and rubbed at his temples, wincing when a claw scratched his over-sensitive skin. He glanced toward Muraki and then to Tori. What would happen to them?

It had bothered him when Muraki's gaze had burned into his back. He could practically feel the other's eyes on him. Before, he thought, I would not have even noticed. Fujimaru's memories stormed through his mind. Both the memories that he'd had all his life and the ones he'd just recently obtained were battling for dominance. His mood grew somber as the unpleasant childhood of Inuyasha played through his inner eye.

He'd heard the hurried footsteps before anyone else, he'd bet. He probably hadn't, seeing as his senses were nowhere near to those of Shippo, who was standing closer to the doorway, but he was still one of the first.

"She's awake," the panicked voice of Ruri said as she burst through the previously closed door. She was breathless and bent at the waist as she leaned on the door. Her brown eyes were wide and her breathing was loud even to human ears.

Both Fujimaru and Muraki forgot their thoughts as they rushed to get to the doorway first.

As they entered the room they saw Sesshoumaru hovering over a now awake Kagome. She was sitting up in the bed. Her back was supported by three pillows so that she could not lie down even if she'd wanted to. She looked even frailer than she had earlier and her skin was ghostly white compared to her customary rosy complexion.

Sesshoumaru was not physically touching Kagome at all, but it had taken all of his control to stop himself from doing so. His back was tense and the muscles in his arms were taut with the effort of keeping them from moving closer to her soft skin or her even softer hair. "What happened?" Sesshoumaru demanded of her as he gritted his teeth to stop himself from saying, or doing, something he would not have liked.

Kagome avoided his harsh gaze and looked into her hands with tear-filled blue-gray eyes. "I had to do it." She whispered dully. Her eyes locked with Fujimaru, who instantly crossed the room to her.

"Why?" Fujimaru asked softly, his hand resting gently atop her shoulder.

She looked at his hand first, still touching her and then to Sesshoumaru who was glaring at Fujimaru. Sighing, she reached up to cup the side of Fujimaru's face. "You will understand eventually." She closed her eyes to focus on gathering strength. "Not now. Maybe not anytime soon, but you will find out my reasons, and yours, someday."

"I don't-" He said weakly, but was quieted by the look in Kagome's eyes. He instead put his free hand on hers and nodded his understanding.

Her eyes filled with more tears and they streamed down her face. "I forgive you, Inuyasha."

With that statement, she was reclaimed by the darkness.

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A/N: I am sooooooo incredibly sorry for the LONG wait. Circumstances I cannot explain in this update (because it would be too time consuming) prevented me from updating. If you really want to know why, you can look it up in my author's page. Thanks to those who didn't give up and to those who will be kind enough to review! Hopefully I won't be taking a year to update the next chapter. I'll start working on it right now! Ja ne minna-san! And, as always, please review!

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nozomuloverilovecrescentmoo… Whew! Long name. Thanks for the review. I know it's been a while. Thanks for reminding me to get off my arse.

Midnight Faerie: I know its been a while since updating, sorry about that. Let me know what you think of the newest occurrences.

Sheenachi: Yes, he does (smiles) thanks for your reviews.

Kiraracutie4: I don't know about obsessed, but I'll try.

LeafeKnight7: Love, I haven't been able to talk to you in a while. My new sn is flamingsango contact me?