A New Beginning

Chapter 3

Kagome sat back, letting all this set in. She was sure that Naraku had caused a lot of people pain, but it seemed to have really hit Inyasha's family. In an odd way that evil hanyou as also bringing a lot of people.

The miko suddenly stood up, the dirt and grim now bugging her, "Mika would you like to join me and Sango at the hot springs?" she asked

"Sure, why not." Mika shrugged, Shadow jumping back up onto her shoulder and Kirara jumped up onto Sango's shoulder.

"Shippo make sure these two don't try anything." Kagome said over her shoulder

Inuyasha snorted at that comment and jumped up into a nearby tree. Miroku laughed nervously, "I would never do such a thing."

Mika just ignored then and jumped ahead, Kirara chasing are them. "I have a feeling she'd know." Kagome laughed, "Come on Sango."

Kagome could sense the hanyous aura ahead, now being able to sense it saw how hurt it was. "This is weird isn't it?"

"Well not all surprising," Sango shrugged, "Demon lords had a nasty habit of sleeping around, usually because of demonic needs. But it's weird that Sesshomaru and Inuyasha have silver hair and she has black."

"Yea it is."

Getting to the hot springs and saw Shadow and Kirara playing, Shadow meowed seeing them, "I know Shadow!" Mika called back

The two neko demons went back to playing. Hearing a small splash after a few seconds, "Must be the shy type." Kagome thought

With one quick look around and quickly stripped down and got in the water, "This feels so nice."

Kirara and Shadow jumped up onto the boulder overlooking them, that's when Mika came into few. Kagome caught sight of a silver chain around her neck and an off tattoo like marking on her arm, "Mika, what part did you come from anyway?"

Mika was neck deep, turned a little, "I've been running for so long I can't really remember." she laughed, the scars on her now clear, "What parts are you from? Well there's a odd power around you, Kagome, you ain't exactly from here are you?"

Kagome looked surprised if anything, could you tell something like that? Well she was right though, she really didn't see to much harm in telling it, "Well I guess you can put it that way, my real homes about 500 years in the future."

Mika didn't look surprised in the least, she just shrugged and sat back on the boulder, the water was up to shoulder level now. Now the mark was clear now, it was a deep purple three mark slash sign like on her forehead, with a blade behind it. It looking like a real tattoo. The necklace was on a silver chain with a blue stone in the shape of half the yin yang sign with a small purple spot, it seemed to glow. "Sango, your village was attacked right?" Mika asked, eyes going towards the waters surface

"How did you know?" Sango asked, a little shocked

"I've heard many horror stories." she said lowly, "The demon slayer village is one that almost every demon knows off."

Kagome wanted to get off the subject, "Mika, that's a really pretty necklace, where did you get it?"

Mika looked down at the stone, a small dazed look crossed, "A friend made if for me for my birthday a while back." she said, but a look of sadness instantly crossed, "The last thing I have..."

"You've lost someone to Naraku too?" Sango asked, able to spot the sad look anywhere, "Someone close."

"My pack so to speak." Mika said lowly, "It's not important, so what's the deal with the two guys back there, the monk and my brother, and relation?"

"Yea right!" they both yelled, blushing a little, well that gave it away. Mika laughed a little bit, "That answers my question." she muttered, "Who was the miko wench that pinned him? I came here a while back and he was stuck to the tree still."

"Kikyo was someone else that Naraku hurt.." Kagome started, Sango just rolled her eyes, it her Kikyo was nothing but a sob story, "Naraku tricked her to turn on Inuyasha, and Inuyasha to turn on Kikyo. It was to get the Shikon Jewel, but when Kikyo was put to rest they burned the jewel along with the body."

"And then the jewel got shattered." she finsihed, Mika reached over and dug into jacket that was next to her. Taking out a small black vile and popped it open, four shards fell into her hand, "You're looking for these right?"

Kagome looked amazed, she hadn't sensed these at all. The shards where pure still too, so it couldn't have been a spell, "I couldn't sense these at all..."

"It was probably the case itself, it hides any magical or powerful item from anyone." Mika shrugged, "I made this one myself."

Sango caught sight of the blade, it had an odd form of writing that she hadn't seen before. She had seen demonic writings and it looked similar but she couldn't put her finger on it. "Mika, your sword isn't normal is it? I've never seen such writing before?"

"Kurmori blade, apperently the demons haven't been around for a while now." she shrugged, "It's some speical thing I can control, I don't know, it's hard to explain."

Shadow jumped down to land behind Mika, mewing before rubbing up against the side of her head. Mika reached around and scratched the cat behind the ear. Shadow purred contently. "So what was with this whole Kikyo thing again?"

"Now she's walking dirt." Sango shrugged, "Some witch brought her back and now she wants to drag Inuyasha to hell with her."

"I really don't like this witch already." Mika muttered, Shadow mewed in agreement.

The campfire flames danced in front of the two men's eyes, Shippo was curled up by Miroku fast asleep. The days events must have worn the little guy out. Inuyasha looked deep in thought, he had always known about Sesshomaru, his so called big brother had turned him away many a time when he was only a child. This though, a younger sister? He swore that his father was completely in love with his mother. Hearing that he had gone with someone else bothered him for some reason. The scent was similar to his so he couldn't deny it.

Miroku looked up seeing his friends inner turmoil, "What bothers you Inuyasha?"

Amber eyes looked up, glaring at him a bit, "Nothing ya monk." he spat

Miroku just shrugged, "Well I would be surprised myself to find that I had a long lost sibling." Miroku started, "Though she seems like a decent person, much trouble lies in her eyes though."

"She's lying." Inuyasha snorted, "About her past I mean, aura shook to much during that little fairy tale."

Miroku just looked at him, "Well we have no reason to trust her, as she has no reason to trust us, so that only makes sense."

Inuyasha just growled, he pushed himself up and leaped into the closest tree. Miroku rolled his eyes, Inuyasha could be such a hot head. Miroku just let his mind wonder, "I wonder, its been away since Kikyo has come around, I wonder if there's a reason for that."

The dead miko had made a habit of stopping by every so often and that hadn't happened in a while. Which brought him to another subject, Kagome wasn't going to put up with her for long, the inu hanyou had to make a choice before he completely lost Kagome.

"Inuyasha, there's something I've been meaning to ask you." Miroku stated, seeing amber eyes look down at him again.

"Well what is it?" Inuyasha snapped

"Have you made your choice yet?" Miroku asked, shifting his staff from one shoulder to the other.

"What are you talking about?" he growled

"Have you chosen between Kagome or Kikyou yet?" Miroku asked simply

"It's not her fault!" Kagome suddenly said

Mika just laughed, "Holding a grudge, that's controllable. If what I've heard is true and that witch loved him as she said, then she wouldn't want to drag him to hell."

Sango shook her head in agreement, "True love, that's where you want happiness for that person, whether that be with someone else or with you. What she wants," Mika growled lowly, "It's nothing but pure hate that's in her."

Sango was starting to like this girl already, Mika rolled her neck and made her way out, "Honestly what you did today, now that is love, whether you want to admit it or now."

Kagome was frozen there, as Mika got out they saw the deep scars on her back almost in the shape of wings. Both girls gasped when the wind picked up suddenly, Shadow just mewed earning a small laugh from Mika. She hurriedly got dressed, sword strapped to her side. Shadow jumped up onto her one shoulder and Kirara leaped up to her vacant shoulder. Mika sat back on the rock, just basically waiting. How still she was though, it might have been some form of meditation.

Inuyasha growled lowly at that one, it was none of the monks business. Not like he had feeling for Kagome anyway! Though something in his head laughed at that. Who was he kidding? Somehow Kagome had wormed her way into his heart and wasn't about to leave anytime soon.

"Well?" Miroku pushed

"I don't know alright." Inuyasha growled, "Not like you need to know..."

"I must warn you, Inuyasha. Women are very senstive creatures and will not be kept waiting." Miroku said in a matter-of-fact tone, "If you wait to long you might lose both, but I must say Kagome is clearly the better choice."

"Why the hell would you say that!" Inuyasha yelled

Miroku looked calm as ever. He froze mid-sentence sensing a new energy. Looking up to see pure white snake looking creatures. "Soul collectors." he thought, seeing several holding a ghostly white orb.

Looking up and as expected Inuyasha was already gone. Miroku sighed again, this would not end well, it never did.

Inuyasha ran threw the forest, eyes dead set ahead. Miroku was right, it wasn't far to anyone involved in this. Ears falling flat at the thought. Recalling something that Kagome had actually said one time. "Who can I not see myself without?" he thought

Just at that thought a young miko's face shot threw his mind. Who was he kidding? He knew he'd probably turn out that way, he was just afraid to admit it.

Getting to a large clearing and saw a very common scene. Kikyo was draped on the ground with several of the soul stealer's brought her the small white orbs. Jumping down onto the forest floor which seemed to alert the dead miko to his presence. Cold grey eyes opened and looked in his direction, "Inuyasha, you came."

Kikyo slowly stood, the few soul collectors exiting the area, "I've heard that you haven't made all that much progress with Naraku." she stated, slowly making her way towards him, "Is my reincarnation letting you down?"

"It's not Kagome's fault." he suddenly said, it seemed like he was finally saying something to her defence.

Kikyo looked at him skeptically, "Really? It sounds as if you admire that girl now." she said, now several feet closer, "Well Inuyasha? Don't you remember what we had?"

Inuyasha shook his head, something wasn't right. Had she always been this cold, this heartless. Something inside him yelled yes, but another side was denying it. Why did her scent make him sick? Why did being near her make his skin crawl? "I don't belong with you anymore."

Kikyo suddenly turned at that, eyes narrowing to deadly slits, "What?"

"I don't belong with you, that's clear to me now." he stated, "I will kill Naraku, that I promise, but I can't go with you to hell, there's to much for me here."

"Like what?" Kikyo spat, "That wench, that group of idiots you call a pack?"

"They've done for me then you ever have!"

Where was all of this coming from? It was all true, granted, but he never spoken like this to her. Suddenly a red tint appeared over Kikyo's cold grey eyes.

After a few more minutes at the hot springs the girls headed back. Though Mika traveled a bit behind them, her aura was dead calm and controlled but a raging fire was swirling in her eyes which unnerved Kagome for some reason. Something was different about this hanyou, it was like a second energy was radiating off of her.

Shadow was perched safely on her shoulder, Kirara on Sango's but Kagome was feeling uneasy about her. Suddenly Mika stopped mid-step, ears perking up. She just rolled her shoulder and Shadow jumped down, fur standing on end. Her large blue eyes glaring threw the trees, "Somethings coming." Mika growled.

Shadow snarled lowly and was engulfed in a blue flames, instead of the small kitten there was a huge saber tooth cat with a blue fire around her paws and tails. Kirara followed her example, Shadow was actually a little bit larger then Kirara. When the wind suddenly picked up blowing Kagome and Sango a bit back, Mika just growled lowly, hand on her blade. Kirara ran to Sango and she hurriedly got up, Kagome was standing, hand also on her blade.

A huge beast flew over head, scales a disgusting yellowish color, wings ripped and tattered. The huge beast landed making the ground shake under their feet. It was about three stories high, it loked like a very old, very weak dragon demon.

"Where is the one they call Inyasha!" he roared, "Where is the half demon?!"

"What do you want with him?!" Kagome yelled

"Naraku will reward anyone who brings he hanyou or shards back to him." the dragon laughed, disgusting yellow teeth showing, "He will grant me true power!"

A red flame shot from it's maw, Kagome and Sango where about to jump, "Stay still!" Mika yelled, pulling the blade from it's sheath and a huge power erupted. The blade had an odd blue sheen and she stabbed it into the ground. Right when the flame hit a black shield appeared around all of them. It felt like Kagome's airways had been cut off, she fell to her knees, "C-can't breath..."

"Kagome!" Sango yelled, going to her side, "What's wrong?"

Mika looked back and cursed lowly, "Just hold on a little longer..." she thought, "Shadow!"

The cat jumped over, nose lightly touching Kagome's head. Kagome gasped no being able to caught her breath, what on earth was that?

The barrier sucked in the fire and it was swirling around them, Mika twisted her hand and the fire shot back at the dragon with three times the power. The barrier fell and Shadow moved away from the miko and back to Mika's side, the dragon roared in pain. Sango jumped in before Mika could make another move, "Hiraikotsu!"

The gaint boomerang shot threw the air, slicing the dragons head clean off and successfully killing it. As the head feel the body turned to ash and was blown away with the wind. Mika snorted and put the blade away, Shadow even seemed disappointed. The demon cat changed back and jumped up onto her shoulder. "What on earth did you do to Kagome?!" Sango yelled, now furious, "What was with that shield!"

Mika just growled, "I didn't know how it would react to a miko, it seems opposites really don't attract." Mika muttered lowly, "I'll refrain from using it alright? It's not like I've traveled with a lot of miko's."

Kagome pushed herself up, "Don't blame her, Sango, it wasn't intentional."

Sango went up next to her, just being the normal worrying sister, "Don't worry I feel fine now, it just caught me by surprise."

Mika looked back, "I guess I was right, then again it's really obvious." she thought, "Darkness and light can't mix or one will suck the other dry."

Waiting for the girl to caught her breath and was hoping the demon exterminator had cooled down, "We still alright?" Mika asked casually

"Yea, I guess." Sango said, though the glare was still there, "Don't let it happen again."

Mika rolled her eyes and went a little bit ahead of them, "Sorry about that, didn't know how it would react to your kind of energy."

Before Kagome could ask a small cry pierced the air, "Kagome! Kagome!"

A small fox kit jumped across the remaining distance into Kagome's arms, shaking like a leaf, "Shippo what's wrong?"

"Inuyasha ran off a while ago and he hasn't come back." Shippo whimpered, "And Miroku caught a really strong demonic aura right after he left, he thinks that Inuyasha might be in trouble."

"Why doesn't he go and find him?" Sango asked

"Miroku said something is blocking his aura, it would take to long to find him." Shippo cried, "He thought that Kagome or Mika might have a better chance then he does."

Mika growled lowly at the thought, she closed her eyes and extended the aura around her to about a ten mile diameter, eyes shooting open caught an extremely strong demon, but it's aura was still in its infancy, like it was a new born demon. "That doesn't make any sense..."

"I caught his aura." Mika said quickly, "And if we lag there's a chance that he isn't going to make it."

Kagome suddenly turned into panic mood, "Where is he?" she yelled

"Just follow me." Mika said quickly, Shadow jumped to her side, "Can you run?"

"Course I can!" Kagome snipped

Mika took off with Shadow fast at her heels, Kagome was quick to follow. Sango was debating with herself whether to follow, "We better get Miroku, come on Shippo."

Mika was much slower then she usually was so that the human could keep pace, though she was pretty fast considering.

"Inuyasha, please be okay..." Kagome thought desperately when an aura hit hard, she froze mid-step.

Mika turned and growled lowly, "What is it?" she yelled

"That aura..." Kagome said, "It's Kikyo's."

(Another done! This one I think turned out much better. And some people that have read the original will notice I'm making some switches, I personally hope it works better that way. Anyways as always Review.)

*I would like to thank a few reviewers that have been with me from the beginning of this story though and I mean the original. Thanks:

juusan'ya

Yumi Stern

Detox Doc (though you've been there from before the start huh sis :p)

Here's some Translations:

Kumroi- Shadow

Keika- firefly light (for some reason I thought it was a suiting name for Kagome's sword)