A/N: Sorry for the long time no-up-datey. I'm sorta banned off the Internet for a week… maybe two… well anyway, I'm not one for long intros, so here's the story:


CHAPTER 3: INTERLUDE

The sun was just starting to rise as the odd group awoke, and prepared for the day's journey ahead of them.

"What's for breakfast?"

"Inuyasha, must your mind always be focused on food?" The monk straightened and did a little stretch.

"Well… the food that I brought with me has run out. We'll have to get more." Kagome's bright smile signified that she, at least, was awake and ready to go.

"I wonder whose fault that was… That food could have lasted a week if everybody stuck to their rations." The early morning did not stop Inuyasha and Shippo having their one-sided fight.

Everyone else took longer to properly awake. Kirara shook her fluffy tails out, gave a delighted purr and went along to the river with Miroku and Sango to catch some fish.

It looks like it's going to be a good day… Kagome thought as she had some time alone to herself. The sun was now properly up in the sky and after breakfast they should get going fast. As she got the fire for the fish going, Kagome sat back and decided to enjoy Japan as it is before the industrialists got a hold of it. The woods several kilometres away from her looked dark, old and menacing, even in the daylight. Even so, she still could not help admiring their grandiose manner, the way the seemed alive, so much unlike the trees in all the modern cities she's been to.

As she was looking down at the woods, she could see a silvery glimmer near the edge. She blinked, what was that? She leaned forward, hoping to see it again. But nothing was there. Oh well. Probably some minor demon… It's pretty far away still-

"Kagome! Have you got that fire going yet?"

"Huh? Oh yeah, the fire." She grinned sheepishly. She had forgotten all about breakfast in her little break admiring the forest.

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No sunlight could get through the dense canopy, but still Kikyo could tell that dawn had come. She could feel the sun's warmth and light calling all living things to rise, accidentally inviting her as well, in its unknowing way.

The sparrow chirped a greeting on her shoulder, as yet unaware of her dark mood. He'll catch on soon enough. So far he had been great at predicting her disposition. "Hane." Kikyo murmured. A replying chirp ensued from the newly christened bird.

"I'll call you Yasei-Hane." Kikyo lifted a finger to her shoulder, offering it to the bird. 'Wild-wing' jumped lightly onto the perch, ruffling his only wing and singing three notes, to show her what he thought of the name.

Kikyo's expression, though, was still as cold as her body. She was waiting for her scouts to come back with news. She could feel not only the Sacred Jewel nearby, but also a familiar aura, so much like her own that she could not ignore it.

Unmistakably Kagome… And she probably had Inuyasha tagging happily along.

It isn't fair. Every day I wander trying to fulfil an unknown Fate, just waiting till Hell is ready to take me and that little… IMITATION of mine gets to live MY life instead of me… Why couldn't the gods leave my soul the way it was?

Kikyo ground her teeth together in agitation. She knew the answer to her own question perfectly: because her soul was not willing to rest peacefully. And neither was she. Obviously Fate had decided to even out her hate and grief with Kagome's love and happiness. Lucky her. Of course, the more she hated and despaired, the happier her little copy was getting. She wondered if Kagome even knew all this.

But there WILL be an end to this. Soon there will be. With or without Inuyasha, Kikyo was going to go where she was meant to in her first life. Surely that was another reason why she got sent back. Even though her resurrection was a demoness' doing, the whole business had the slight taint of Godly intervention. And Kikyo didn't like it.

Finally a flash of silver told her from far off her Soul Stealers were back. She moved forward to meet them. They swarmed around her, enshrouding her in shiny gleaming streamlined bodies. They whispered silently to her, telling her of where they had been, what they had seen.

"I was right." She told Hane, who had hopped away. He didn't like being any closer to her Soul Stealers than he had to be. Something about them triggered his sparrow instincts.

"Chiri?" This was Hane's favourite word. His only word, actually. With different variations on the intonation he made his thoughts clear. This time it was a puzzled 'chiri'.

"Inuyasha and Kagome. They're just outside of the forest borderline. We better get going if we want to avoid them." Kikyo dismissed her Soul Stealers with a wave of her hand, and held out a finger to Hane. He hopped on, slightly misjudging the distance, and ended up grappling with her finger for a hold, flapping his remaining wing and looking overall utterly ridiculous.

Kikyo could not help letting out a half-suppressed laugh. The sound surprised both her and Hane. "Chiri…" Hane sang accusingly.

"What? Aren't I allowed to laugh?"

"Chiri!" No.

"I guess you're right…" Kikyo shook her head, half still surprised, half sad. Yasei sat on her shoulder like a warden of the strangely mad, looking very determined at his new job as Kikyo-keeper.


A/N: Now I get on with the actual notes. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU people for reviewing. Just thought you deserved a mention for your valiant reviewing deeds. If everyone could just be really nice and follow their example, it'd be great:

Rainykitty (ha.. I'll try to keep writing...)

Soul Tiger (yes it is sad)

SonnyGoten (MAJOR thanks. Your reply came at a good time when I was having doubts about my very short writing career. I hope I don't disappoint you or anything)