The future is an opaque mirror. Anyone who tries to look into it sees nothing but the dim outlines of an old and worried face. ~Jim Bishop

….

A large fire crackled in the midst of the forest. An excruciating day of traveling had preceded it. The ones who had started the fire were tired and worn. They had to make up for lost time. One of the travelers had held up the rest of the group unintentionally. She was now explaining why she allowed for such a thing to happen.

"That's as much as I know for now…" Kagome finished. After Kagome's speech about most of what had happened to her stirred up discussion, she had skimmed a bit on some details. Some things were just a bit too personal to mention. She was also certain that Inuyasha might not understand the fact she had…kissed his half-brother among other things.

"Inuyasha, why didn't you tell us about this other relative of yours? I believe Kagome suggested his name was Kano?" Miroku inquired. The half-demon among the group seemed rather displeased with the simple question. However when one thought back on Inuyasha's past, it wasn't too much of a mystery to figure out why the idea of relatives was a rather touchy subject.

"I didn't really spend that much time with my father's side of the family. So, sorry I wasn't so damn informative of people I didn't even know I was related too. It's not like I would've cared either way. Or if they would of…" Inuyasha said plainly. His amber-colored eyes were focused on the fire with a new level of intensity. Red-clad arms crossed snuggly against his torso in a protective fashion. Kagome felt another wave of guilt wash over her. The guilt grew when his gaze took a turn to Kagome's direction across the dancing flames.

"For now we shouldn't have to worry too much about this Kano anyway" Sango began, "What we really need to focus on is Naraku and his 'golden era'. The fact he is somehow able to manipulate high ranking demons into a plan to eradicate humans is bad enough, but we're still unsure of what his real objective is,"

Everyone took time to pause and contemplate what Sango had said; even Shippo had a serious expression etched onto his youthful features. Kagome brushed her hand against the ground as she thought about it. Her fingers twirled in the dirt creating spiral designs in the earth. The more the group thought, the more tension filled the air. It was almost choking them.

"We're forgetting another important thing about Naraku that we had yet to take in account," Miroku said suddenly. The rings of his staff jingled as he shifted his position. He now had everyone's undivided attention. When Miroku didn't speak up immediately about what he meant, Inuyasha grew impatient.

"What are we forgetting?" Inuyasha growled. Suddenly Kagome shot up from her spot. Her eyes were wide and a hand covered her mouth; stifling her gasp. Miroku nodded towards Kagome. He realized she must understand what he was hinting at.

"Oh god…" Kagome said breathlessly. Inuyasha's head swung back and forth as he tried to understand what exactly was happening. It was at this point and time that Sango caught on. Her face contorted into a frown at the realization.

"Kagura…" Sango said simply.

"Kagura?" Inuyasha said irritably, "Why do we have to worry about her? She's dead isn't she? I don't get what you all are going on about,"

"The fact she's dead is exactly what we're trying to say Inuyasha. We've killed one of Naraku's strongest henchmen. We've taken one of his biggest assets. He's unlikely to take such a thing lightly. However, it's been a while since the incident and we've received no repercussions. That's highly suspicious…" Miroku explained.

Inuyasha finally got it, but it didn't mean he was happy about it. The Hanyou scrambled to his feet and began to pace. This new information was not good at all. It was true. Something should have happened after Naraku took such a huge blow like losing Kagura. The fact that nothing had happened at all was more worrisome. It meant Naraku was planning something big.

Kagome had calmed down a little by this time. She was now sitting on the ground once more. Her eyes staring blankly into the fire. Naraku was becoming more dangerous. It was now at a point where they had no way of knowing how he'd strike. Everyone's nerves were now drawn tighter. Thoughts floating in the air.

"The golden era!" Sango said suddenly.

"What about it?" Inuyasha said as he paused in his pacing. Sango's outburst had startled all in the group. Eyes were pointed in her direction. All were waiting for an answer. Sango breathed deeply and prepared to speak. She had a theory that seemed plausible. Yet, a small part of her hoped it would be proved false.

"I still am unsure of Naraku's main objective, but I have an idea of what he's trying to use the golden era for. He lost one of his greatest threats against us right? However, think about it guys. Who did he lose Kagura to?" Sango said, her eyes falling downcast. Kagome's fingers tangled in her skirt. Her grip on the fabric growing tight enough to turn her knuckles white.

"I killed Kagura…" Kagome said softly.

"If my assumption is correct. Then the golden era was made for her. It was made for Kagome," Sango said. The older woman's eyes traveled up again. They appeared troubled by what had been spoken. She knew that the possibility about her idea being true was high. Inuyasha stepped forward. He made his way until he stood directly in front of the demon hunter.

"Why would the golden era be for Kagome?" Inuyasha questioned. His amber eyes were sharp. All these things they talked about where coming too fast at him. He was having trouble keeping up. Too many things were coming into the picture all at once.

"It makes sense if you think about it. Naraku goes on about the 'Golden Era'. Other demons begin to pick up on it. The idea is very appealing to some. It's easy to manipulate anyone into thinking they'd be gaining riches and power with this move. The stage is set. All Naraku has to do is sit and watch. He may have lost his strongest player, but he'll win anyway. Kagome is a Miko, but she's still human," Sango explained.

"That means Naraku can continue on with whatever he's already doing, and let the demons do the real dirty work. If Kagome is dead then Naraku's accomplished two goals. He's got his vengeance for losing Kagura and gotten to take out someone important to Inuyasha," Miroku continued darkly.

A silence enveloped the group after all was said and done. The only sound to be heard was the crackling of the fire. The group had all their answers now, but the knowledge only proved to make them feel empty. Kagome didn't care if she appeared weak at this moment anymore.

A sob shook the young woman's body…

….

The glass of the mirror fogged and the picture within faded away. Tiny hands lowered the mirror in her hold closer to the ground. Her eyes remained blank as a light breeze blew at her short white hair. The petals of the tiny blossoms in her hair fluttered in the wind as well. The seemingly young girl holding the mirror studied the person in front of her.

"You seem displeased with what the looking glass has shown you," she stated softly. The figure in front of the girl slid their fingers down the glass of the mirror. Their face showed no sign of what they were thinking. A moment of silence followed the action until the figure decided to speak.

"I am not displeased. I am merely surprised by the fact that Inuyasha's little group has managed to grow wiser" the figure answered, "What do you think about this new development?"

"Naraku does not expect me to think anything," the white-haired girl answered truthfully. The other figure removed their hand from the mirror to lay at their side. Deep brown eyes scanned over the girl holding the mirror. The girl stared back wordlessly.

"I suppose that answer would be expected of one of Naraku's tools. He tends to use beings like you often," the other figure said plainly. The white-haired girl twisted her mirror closer to herself. Her blank eyes shimmered with something for a second before fading to blackness again.

"You realize that Naraku plans to use you as well," the white-haired girl said coolly.

The other figure showed no reaction to the comment. She simply ran a hand through her long black tresses as she thought about something. When it seemed that this other woman had come to some conclusion she prepared to leave. She did not get too far before a small hand suddenly grabbed onto her red pants. Deep brown eyes glanced back.

"What is it?" she asked. The white-haired girl continued to hold on to the fabric of her red pants. Those black blank eyes from earlier stared up into her face. The girl's other small hand still clutched to the mirror.

"Where are you going?" the white-haired girl asked.

"I am simply leaving this place. I have gained nothing from this meeting, but the knowledge that Inuyasha's group has figured out most of your master's plans. What reason do I have to stay?" the other woman answered, leaving off with another question.

The white-haired girl released the pant-leg of the other woman before stepping back. She steadied her mirror again as she brought it up. New images began to swirl into view. They were scenes of the past weeks coming into focus.

"Your goal is to get to Inuyasha, yes? In order to do so, you also plan on disposing of the girl called Kagome? I have information that will help you get rid of the girl faster…" the white-haired girl said cryptically.

"What information do you have?" the other woman asked, slightly curious.

"I shall show you images of Kagome's recent interactions with the one known as the Lord of the West. Use the knowledge of these visions as you see fit,"

….

The forest was quiet as the two women walked deeper into it. Kagome sighed as she held her things closer to her body. Sango and she were headed to take a bath, but it was harder than normal for Inuyasha to allow such a thing. Everyone had been on edge since the discussion three days before. Inuyasha seemed the most shaken up about it. Kagome didn't know why. She was the one in danger…

"You okay?" Sango asked, breaking the silence. Kagome turned her head to look at her close friend. Sango had been very kind to her throughout all of what had happened. As a professional demon hunter, the group felt it was alright if the girls went out alone as long as Sango was present. Kagome felt a little bitter at the fact they didn't trust in her skills enough. Yet, she preferred Sango's company either way.

"I'm mostly fine. My mind has just been focused on everything that's happened," Kagome answered as they finally reached the spring. Sango eyed Kagome after she answered. She then nodded in understanding. The two began to get undressed.

Soon enough they settled into the water. The warmth the water brought was only mildly comforting. It didn't completely cure fried nerves. The sun was fading in the background as the sun set. The quiet of the forest likely came from the mystic time before days end and nights beginning.

Kagome breathed deeply before leaning back onto the bank. She gazed up through the tree-tops to the last bit of sunlight shining through. The sky appeared to be orange with light patches of pink. Kagome had always found sunsets to be rather beautiful. They were even beautiful seen through the branches of a tree. Kagome brought her eyes back down to look in front of her. Sango appeared to be studying her closely. Kagome felt slightly uncomfortable by the scrutinizing gaze. She gave Sango a questioning look.

"I'm sorry…" Sango said before turning her head quickly to the side, "It's just that something has been nagging at my brain for a while since you told us what had happened to you,"

Kagome blinked. She couldn't imagine what Sango could be thinking about. Kagome still felt a bit guilty that her close friend didn't know the whole truth of her adventures with Sesshomaru. She was a bit worried to find out exactly what was bothering Sango. Kagome swallowed and then came to a decision.

"What is it that's bothering you?" Kagome asked. Sango sighed, lifting a hand out of the water. Tiny rivulets of water trickled through the older woman's fingers. There was a pause before her answer.

"In all honesty, I just still don't understand why Lord Sesshomaru would bother to save you from Kano," Sango said. Whatever Kagome had expected Sango to say, it wasn't that. The young woman was unsure how to reply. Kagome dunked her head in the water for a second before resurfacing. She pretended to busy herself with her hair while she thought.

"I don't know why…" Kagome answered. The young miko refused to face her friend directly as she scrubbed shampoo into her hair. She was afraid about what her face might show. She also really didn't know an answer to what Sango asked. It was just as a mystery to her as it was for the demon hunter.

"It doesn't make sense though. Sesshomaru has tried to kill us on more than one occasion. Well he's mostly tried to kill Inuyasha; however, to us for the most part he's an enemy. True he traveled with us briefly, but that was strange in itself" Sango said.

"Is it really that surprising that Sesshomaru saved me?" Kagome said softly. The young woman was gently brushing her fingers through her hair. Inky black strands straightened out as she worked her hands through them. Kagome leaned back far enough to was out some of the shampoo from her hair. A frown was set on her face.

"Have I upset you somehow?" Sango asked suddenly.

"Huh?" Kagome uttered as she pulled her head back up from the water, "Why would I be upset?"

Sango hovered hand over the top of the water. Her fingers created thousands of ripples along the water line. Sango breathed in deeply. She had Kagome's full attention now. The older woman looked up to stare directly into Kagome's eyes.

"You seemed slightly defensive about what I said," Sango said.

"I wasn't defensive. I just don't believe that Sesshomaru is as cruel as we make him out to be," Kagome replied as she dabbed conditioner into her hair now. As soon as Sango had locked eyes on her, she did her best to avoid them. Sango was taken aback by Kagome's response.

"For you to say something like that, it makes me wonder if you didn't tell us anything else that might have happened," Sango said concernedly. Kagome dunked her head into the water again as she washed out the last of the conditioner. Once that was done the miko started to get out of the water.

"I'm done bathing…" Kagome said simply. Sango sighed and hurried to get out of the water herself. She was not satisfied with the way their conversation had abruptly ended. The demon hunter knew that there would be another discussion sometime soon whether the younger woman liked it or not.

Kagome had wrapped a towel around herself as she looked for a smaller one in her bag to hold up her hair. As Kagome shuffled through her bag, her fingers brushed against something rough. Her eyes shot to the journal innocently resting inside her bag. Kagome's hand retracted quickly and she turned to see if Sango had noticed anything. The demon hunter was quietly drying herself off nearby. She was none the wiser…

Kagome turned her attention back to the journal before pushing it aside to grab the other towel. Once she had the smaller towel wrapped securely around her hair, Kagome shut her bag to hide what lay inside. Kagome realized she had been close to revealing the journal, which would have not ended well.

The young woman was already straining her friendship with Sango by not revealing information about what had transpired between her and Sesshomaru; she couldn't imagine what would happen if she revealed she was hiding as something as significant as the journal. The old book with papers and envelopes was still a mystery even to her. Who knew what secrets may lie inside…?

"I wonder..." Kagome said quietly. Her eyes snapped over to Sango again. The other woman was finished drying off and was preparing to get dressed. Kagome took a deep breath. She decided to take a risk. Who knew? Maybe it was time to open the journal? With that excuse in mind, Kagome opened her bag once more.

She checked to make sure Sango was still distracted as she reached a hand in. The first thing her fingers was a red piece of paper. She slipped it out of the pages of the journal slowly. After a moment or two, Kagome turned her attention to Sango again. She was still getting ready. Perfect.

Kagome pulled her hand out of the bag. She gently began to unfold the red piece of paper. This was the moment of truth, so to speak. When Kagome's eyes caught sight on what was written on the paper a loud squeak escaped her. Sango was immediately on alert.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Sango asked as she headed towards Kagome. The young miko quickly shuffled her bag close and crushed the red piece of paper in her hand. Her eyes were wide and her heart was pumping fast inside her chest.

"It's nothing, I promise. I think I just saw a bug or something. All it did was startle me," Kagome explained. Sango didn't look completely convinced by Kagome's excuse, but she let it go. Soon enough Sango went back to getting fully dressed.

Kagome unclenched her hand and the red piece of paper tumbled to the ground. She eyed it curiously. The mystery of the journal instead of being solved had only grown more mysterious. It was starting to get to Kagome. It was as if the journal itself knew what move she would make before it even happened. The red piece of paper was proof enough of that. Its words were obviously meant for her. Those letters in tiny bold print.

'No Cheating'

…

Well, I hoped you enjoyed this chapter. There was quite a bit of talking, but I assure you it has a purpose. Review PLEASE! =D