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Kagome sat stunned on Sango's sofa, her eyes slowly drifting around the room. Her living room was decorated in balloons and streamers. Happy Birthday banners, pinned to the ceiling dipping low in the middle. She could see the cake sitting on the bar, along with ice cream that was beginning to melt through the cardboard and on to the counter. Her heart was pounding, the blood rushing in her ears. She was barely keeping her breathing normal. She couldn't hear what anyone was saying, let alone what it all meant and had to do with her. Her eyes glazed over as she pictured Naraku's slumped body. Hair disheveled and hanging in his face. The smell of burning flesh. She thought of the weight of his body on her's and the feel of his breath and lips on her neck. She cringed. No, she didn't feel bad about killing him. But what if the police came looking for her? She shook her head. She felt a weight lower on the sofa beside her, and tensed. Sango gently pulled Kagome into her arms, hugging her lightly.

Kagome focused her attention on Sango, watching her speak.

"Guys, I don't think Kagome is listening."

Sango searched Kagome's face with worried eyes. Sango looked Kagome in the eye.

"Kagome, do you want to tell us what happened?" Sango spoke clearly and was hard to take her seriously with one of those "dunce style" party hats strapped to her head, slightly cocked to the side.

Kagome's eyes widened with fear and her heart began racing even faster. She shook her head quickly, a strong jerk from side to side.

Sango nodded slowly, "Okay. Have you heard anything we've been saying?"

"No," Kagome's voice sounded thick and rough, as if she hadn't spoken in years.

Sango nodded and stood up.

"I think maybe we need to just let Sesshomaru talk to her. I don't think she can handle this information today."

Kagome cleared her throat.

"Maybe you guys should just start smaller. How can I understand any of what you're saying to me if I don't know the basics?"

All eyes were on her. She stood up pushing a streamer to the side, coming to stand between Sango and Miroku.

"Or, better yet, why don't I just ask questions? And you guys answer me to the best of your ability," She paused for opposition but received none. Kagome pressed on, she just needed a few answers to placate her till tomorrow. Her mind was racing, trying to narrow down her curiosity and confusion to a few questions.

"Inuyasha, why do you have ears?"

"I'm half dog demon," He answered her quickly and directly. The thought passed through her mind to laugh, but as he continued to make eye contact with her, his face serious, she knew he wasn't kidding. She didn't know what he meant by demon. Demons weren't a real thing. Bu that was too in depth, she could deal with the rest of this tomorrow, but for now she needed her immediate question's answered.

"Sango, what was that thing I saw in the hall today?"

"Well, we call those soul eaters. Basically it is a demon that infects a human's soul and takes over their body. And then it slowly infects other souls, by removing the soul and eating it."

Kagome nodded slowly. She was growing more and more sure that everyone in this room was insane. Herself included. She found herself nodding as if she had known that all along. She didn't know what was crazier, what they were saying or the fact that she felt inclined to believe them.

"Who is we?"

Everyone was quiet for a while. After a moment Miroku spoke.

"We protect the High Priestess."

"From who?"

Miroku began to speak, but Inuyasha cut him off.

"Why don't we answer that question tomorrow? It's your birthday Kagome. Shouldn't we celebrate?"

Kagome looked at him with sad eyes, "I killed my father tonight Inuyasha, there is no celebrating."

"But he abused and tormented you," Inuyasha said softly.

"Ending a life, no matter whose it is, isn't worth celebrating. All life is sacred."

Sango faced the two boys. "I think we should try celebrating tomorrow night instead, huh? Let's just call it a night, Kagome looks exhausted."

Sango ushered the two boys towards the door.

"I guess we'll see you tomorrow Kagome!" Miroku called over his shoulder on the way out the door.

"Happy Birthday, Kagome." And with those words, Inuyasha was gone. Sango locked and double bolted the door behind them.

"Kagome why don't you sleep in my bed tonight? You look like you could use a bed."

Kagome began to protest, following Sango to her room to be heard.

"I can't take your bed Sango."

Sango turned to her, holding a pair of pajamas.

"I'm not sleeping in here tonight, so either you use it, and I sleep on the sofa. Or you sleep on the sofa and I sleep on the floor. Your pick," She pushed the clothes into Kagome's arms before she left the room, closing the door behind her. Kagome quickly changed, folding her clothes neatly on the bed. She felt almost weak as she flipped off the light and crawled into Sango's comfortable bed. Even under the layers of blankets Kagome felt cold. She pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around herself tightly, as if she would fall apart. She fought back the shivers that started at the base of her spine and vibrated closed her eyes, instantly haunted with visions of Naraku. His face. His hands she had come to fear, touching her, violating and hurting her, wrapped around her neck and in other places she hated to think about. She remembered him giving her ice cream as a little girl, tucking her in. She pictured him dead against the wall in their living room. She killed the only thing close to family she had left. She cried herself to sleep.

Kagome's limbs felt stiff. Almost all of her joints cracking as she rose. She found Sango laying on the very corner of the bed, sleep. Kagome sat up slowly, rotating her neck from side to side feeling the relief from the tension in her neck and back as it popped. She bent her fingers and flexed her hands, listening to each one of her knuckles crack. She must have slept hard. She looked at her hands, they looked slimmer than before, more delicate. She needed to pee. She slowly pushed her legs over the side of the bed, and rose to her feet, careful not to put more weight on her legs then she could bear. She took small uneven steps to the bathroom. Teetering as she went. She made it just in time and sighed in relief. Kagome flushed and went to wash her hands. She looked at herself in the mirror and her hand paused over the faucet. She no longer looked like herself. Her face was slimmer, but instead of sickly, it was delicate, feminine. Her nose was perfectly straight as if she had never broken it. Her hair for once laid on it's own in perfect waves. She ran her hands through it, it was silky to the touch, not one hair out of place. Her lips were fuller, a far cry from the thin lips she remembered having yesterday. She was beautiful. Kagome brought her foreign hands to her face, and screamed.

Sango came rushing in to the bathroom.

"What's wro-" she stopped short as she looked at Kagome. Sango tried to smile reassuringly but failed.

"Wow, you look so different."

"Sango, what the fuck is wrong with me?" Kagome turned away from the mirror, her hand's still pressed to her face in horror. Sango's eyes were wide with almost panic.

"We should get you to Sesshomaru."

Sango lead Kagome out of the bathroom. Sango gave Kagome some clothes to wear and turning her back, began to change as well. Kagome turned her shirt around in her hands, turning it inside out then right side out twice. Kagome, pulled on her sneakers and walked into the living room. All the decorations were gone.

"Hey Sango! When did you take all the decorations down?"

Sango came up behind her, hurriedly shrugging on a jacket, "Kagome you've been asleep for a week."

Kagome was pretty sure she almost hated Sesshomaru.

He lived in what could easily be called a mansion on the outskirts of town. His apparent wealth was practically sickening. She and Sango waited in a sitting room, a bright room that was all windows. Tall arching windows that stretched from floor to ceiling. Maids fussed around and over them as they were offered beverage after beverage. Kagome finally accepted a cup of tea in hopes they would leave the room. Instead they spent time assuring her Sesshomaru would be with her any moment, and offering her more sugar and honey.

Kagome kept shooting looks at Sango who seemed equally annoyed. Kagome watched as Sango stood in the back of the room, her arms folded tightly against her body. Sango shifter her weight from foot to foot, her energy clearly nervous. Sango had been displaying all her usual signs of discomfort all morning, talking non stop and force feeding herself and Kagome. Kagome felt uneasy and clumsy in her body, her tummy so full she felt she would explode. She picked the tea up and brought it to her lips. There was no sugar in it, and the tea hit her tongue in a bitter wave. She swallowed and took another sip before placing it gingerly on the saucer. It was beautiful china, the cup was a pure white porcelain with beautiful rose gold etchings around the rim. The saucer was the inverse, a rose gold colored plate with white swirls on the outer edge. Kagome jumped when the door opened, Inuyasha stood there, his hair disheveled as if he just woke up, though he was dressed. Kagome couldn't help but eye him. His silver hair caught the light, and his eyes glowed. He reached an arm up to rub the back of his head and she watched the muscles in his arm flex. He looked at Kagome, his face unreadable. Kagome felt her heart beat increase. She picked up her bitter tea, breaking eye contact.

"You may leave us," Inuyasha said his voice cold and commanding. The maids straightened, bowed to him and her before leaving the room quickly, the door clicking behind them.

Sango burst out laughing," You sound just like Sesshomaru when you do that."

Inuyasha grinned, "I've been working on my pompous asshole voice, I think it's coming along quite well."

Kagome smiled at them, feeling normal for the first time that day.

Inuyasha sat beside her a small smile still playing on his lips, "How are you feeling?"

"Well, besides looking like a completely different person, I feel fine," her voice held a bitter note to it that she tried to cover with a smile.

Inuyasha's eyes roamed her face, before he snorted, "You look the same to me."

Kagome rolled her eyes, but the smile on her face widened.

"I look pretty, huh?" She playfully elbowed him. He smiled at her

"Yeah, yeah, you're beautiful," he said, shrugging her off, "Now don't let Sesshomaru throw you off. You've met him before, so you know he's an ass. But he can tell you more about what you need to know than we can," Inuyasha said.

"Got it."

The door opened to a well dressed man in a business suit, his face was oddly angular, and he almost looked feline. His hands were folded neatly in front of him as he bowed at the waist.

"Lord Sesshomaru will see you now."

Kagome shot a look at Sango, mouthing to her, "Lord?"

Sango rolled her eyes then mouthed back at her, "Go."

Kagome stood up and followed him out the room, leaving Inuyasha and Sango behind.