"Kagome?" The feminine voice broke the still afternoon air, "Kagome, please get up, we're all so worried."

"Five more minutes, Mom," grumbled Kagome. At least, that's what she thought she said. It really came out as a low purr, scaring the taijya beside her all the more.

"Kagome, please."

"Fine." Kagome growled (literally). "What's the rush anyways?" Sitting up, the former miko repeated her query, but this time she actually heard the fierce growl that escaped her mouth.

Sango was at a loss for what to do. Although it seemed Kagome could understand her, it was equally obvious that she could not reply, at least not in any human language. The slit-pupiled hazel eyes staring at her in that unnerving way were not helping her thought processes in the slightest.

"Kagome," Sango started, "this may come as a bit of a shock to you, but I don't know how else to say this."

Kagome nodded and gave a slight smile, fangs and all, indicating that Sango should continue.

With an involuntary shudder Sango complied, "You're a….You've become a….a tiger youkai."

Suddenly, the hut was filled with roars and growls, presumably questions about this recent development.

"Kagome!" came a scolding, equally inhuman voice. The owner of this voice waited a few moments and then, frustrated, morphed into her larger and fiercer form. "Kagome," The two-tailed cat roared, "stop this nonsense."

Kagome's roars receded into whimpers and growls, prompting the neko-youkai to nuzzle the confused girl.

"Kirara?" came a soft purr, "Can you…can you understand me?"

"Hai, Kagome-sama, I can."

"So I'm really a cat?"

"Actually, you're a tiger."

"Same difference."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Future talk," Kagome said by way of explanation, "it means it really doesn't matter."

"On the contrary, it does matter."

"How so?"

"It affects your abilities and…" at this point Kirara hesitated, she was fully aware of the reaction she would encounter if she said this.

"And what, Kirara?" questioned Kagome, suddenly anxious.

"Your species also affects your appearance." Kirara admitted.

"My appea…Oh kami." Kagome yelped starting to run outside.

Blocking the way, Kirara rumbled, "Kagome, some clothes?"

Kagome, finally noticing her state of dress, or rather her state of undress, gulped upon seeing the jagged stripes tattooing her entire body.

'Are they communicating?' Sango mused, after watching for another moment she added, 'I guess so.' After this thought floated through her mind, Sango realized Kagome was trying to get her attention, "I'm sorry Kagome, I was lost in thought. What is it?"

Kagome sighed, 'Just when I finished my turn of charades.' Restarting her routine, Kagome tugged at Sango's kimono, indicated her own naked body, and then pointed outside.

Realization dawning upon her, Sango pulled out one her spare kimonos and handed it to Kagome, saying, "Be mindful of your claws, Kagome, I only have a couple of these and I can't afford to lose one."

At this implied insult something inside of Kagome roared, "Silence her master, she is only a weak human, she has no right to insult us!" Kagome felt a sudden urge to kill emanating from her core.

Gasping, Kagome fell to her knees, horrified at this new development.

"Control her Kagome!" Snarled Kirara, "you are her master, you CAN control her!"

Sango, scared out of her wits, stood stock still, not daring to move a muscle, which was lucky, considering Kagome would have certainly killed her had she done otherwise.

Kagome shoved the urge to kill aside and then, shivering, whimpered, "What was that?"

"That was your beast," answered Kirara, "and what a powerful beast she is. You will have to learn to control her."

"I don't think I can."

"You must, and soon. But, now let us go check your appearance. Does that sound good?"

"Yes," Kagome replied, glad for a distraction. But, despite her best efforts, she could still feel a frustrated knot of pure rage pounding in the back of her skull. A darkness that thirsted for blood and was cloaked in arrogance. An evil that Kagome knew would soon taint her own pure soul.

End Chapter

Dun Dun Daa!

And thats chapter 2!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Inuyasha characters, they belong to Rumiko Takahashi. I do however own my original plot of this story.