The woman next to her was beautiful, but not in the usual way. Her hair was jet black, like her own, mostly straight with just a slight wave and very long. Her eyes were the color of sapphires and just as hard, where Kagome's were blue-gray and full of emotion like the sea. A small, heart-shaped face with small, pouty lips completed her most striking features. After that, Kagome's gaze slowly dropped downward, adding a long, lean but strong body to the mix. Perfectly balanced in her upper and lower features, her chest wasn't small but was by no means ample; most of it came from her wide shoulders. Her hips were slim but not unnaturally so, it was obvious there was a lot of running involved in this woman's life.
Yet, even for all this lady's beauty, Kagome couldn't help but notice that she would look remarkably awkward in any sort of gown or kimono that most women of this era wore. Instead, she was clothed in full battle regalia: from her neck to her toes, this woman was dressed for battle. Though the make was old, it was obviously of the best quality. Shoulder plates and chest armor were her main defenses, her arms and legs were covered in thick, obviously durable cloth to less hamper her movement. Black, hide boots concealed her feet, and next to them lay a sword, completing the look.
There was a certain aura about her though. Kagome realized this is what would make her look foolish in court gowns. This woman had a warrior's air about her; as if at any moment, she could turn from sipping tea to lopping off someone's head without missing a beat.
"If you are finished perusing my person, there are matters to discuss" said the woman, looking slightly vexed.
~*What felt like several hours later*~
"So, let me make sure I got all this straight. You're telling me, that with my ever-fantastic luck, I killed Naraku with an arrow that wasn't even actually aimed at him, but at the same time, one of his minions, not even a strong one, snuck up behind me, nearly split me in half with his claws, and I'm now dead? And on top of that, the completed Shikon no Tama, of it's own accord, returned itself to me, re-fused itself to my hip, where it came from in the first place, erected a barrier around me, again, by itself, healed all my physical injuries, though I'm still dead, reunited my soul, killing Kikyo in the process, and I'm now floating in the middle a battleground, dead, encased in aforementioned barrier, with my friends all probably freaking out, trying to figure out why my corpse is in a floating bubble? Oh! and while that's all happening out there, my remaining consciousness is inside the Shikon that is inside my body, and I'm sitting here, having a dandy conversation with you- and you just so happen to be the legendary Midoriko. Did I get all that right?" a near hysterical Kagome questioned, though not sure if she believed any of it. In the back of her mind, she thought, 'I wonder what the nice men in white coats would think of my delusions?'
"Actually, the arrow you mentioned only broke Naraku's barrier. It was your second arrow, powered by your remaining life-force, that actually killed him" said a sagely nodding Midoriko, as if it was a very important fact.
Kagome starting giggling in hysteria, "Oh! That's right, I destroyed the most evil creature in the world with not one, but two arrows that I wasn't even aiming! How could I forget?" Her giggles continued, slowly morphing into a deranged cackle.
Midoriko leveled a dead-pan stare at the teenager "Don't go insane now, girl. There are still more important matters that I must tell you of and you must be sane and lucid for them. If you wish to give up your sanity afterward, please feel free. Until then, knock off your nonsense and listen up"