The Gift.

Kagome gazed at the crystallized woman efore her, kneeling down respectfully. Midoriko was one woman who had defeated thousands of demons. Kagome could only hope to have a shred of the strrength that this woman had. Kirara mewed beside Kagome and curled up next to the former partner of hers. Kagome smiled and spread out her sleeping bag, something she had not used in quite sometime. She hadn't brought very much with her, but wanted to be comfortable in the cave where she would be praying.

She didn't take much time to get settled. Kagome sat on her knees and clasped her hands together. She shut her eyes and began to transcend her thoughts. Praying was something that Kagome had long been doing because of her superstitious grandpa. He believed the spiritual beings from past lives and from other realms would act upon the souls that survived the world. Kagome smiled by just remembering that and proceeded to get back to her prayers. She herself believed that being in the presence of Midoriko's body would comfort and aid her.

Kagome didn't notice how much time flooded past her. She became so far entangled into her mind that she did not notice her body beginning to glow. Her priestess aura had started to surround her, waking Kirara from her slumber. Suddenly, another glow began to fill the cave. A light blue connected with the pink, causing a curious reaction. Kirara got to her feet and stared at the blue. Slowly but surely it began to take a form, causing the smal demon to jump onto Kagome's lap.

"What the-"

Kagome gasped, falling back onto her bum. Her pink glow remaine in the air and was touching a blue figure. What were words? Kagome couldn't figure out how to use her voice. This wasn't real, obviously. She was hallucinating because she had become so entrapped into her mind. However, the cat in her lap proved to her that she was not the only one seeing her.

"Midoriko," Kagome finally whispered.

"Ay, child," the spirit replied.

"How is... what the... I don't..."

Kagome couldn't properly put a sentence together. This was not happening.

"Do not be afraid," Midoriko called to her gently.

"How is this possible?" Kagome asked.

"Because of you, dear child. You have great power within you and your priestess powers reached out to me. I am here to help you."

"I'm so sorry for what I have done!" Kagome cried out, tears spilling.

"Mistakes are made, we can only try to fix them. The Shikon no Tama renders great power to those who possess it. You are able to feel it, can you not?"

"Yes, it's like a black darkness in his chest."

"Do you intend to kill him? Are you prepared to make a decision like that?"

"I've thought about this... And I am prepared for it. I'm the one who let him take it and I have to stop him."

"I can feel how strongly you mean this, which is why I want to lend you my aid. I am going to gift you with the power to do what you must. Your power will strengthen you, but YOU must decide what you will do when facing Inuyasha. There is one thing I want you to know."

Kagome listened attentively.

"The Shikon jewel may be influenced by good or evil, that much you knew. However, it was not created from malice or evil intent, therefore it will remain whole with whomever uses it for said reason."

"What does this mean for us?" Kagome asked, confusedly.

"If you can manage to pull the jewel from his body and purify him, you have a chance of saving him."

"Do you believe I can really do this? Will he go back to being a hanyou?" Kagome asked, eagerly.

"If you succeed, he will return to what he was. It will be no easy task and you may not be able to spare him, but your new power will be of great assistance."

"What power?"

"Fuck!"

Koga stumbled to the ground, aggravating the gashes in his body. He had run most of the way to his destination, but had to stop because of the pain soaring through him. Normally he healed fairly fast, but he hadn't been hit with as much force as the dog had hit him in a long time. He wanted to get to Kagome and protect her. Given the damage that the mutt had done, Koga was relieved that Kagome had not seriously been wounded either. But it was late into the night now and Koga was feeling weaker by the second, he would need to get somewhere and rest til the sun came up again.

A broken village came into sight, one that appeared to be barricaded by a massive fence. He didn't know many humans to have thought of such a technique, but thought of one group who had. He walked through the large gate doors and pushed them open just enough to let himself in. He wouldn't normally take shelter in any place that humans resided, but found that he didn't need to be picky. It was an eerie village, dead and long gone from anyone's mind. He saw numerous weapons lying across the ashes that had destroyed the village and figured it was in fact the demon exterminator's village.

Koga stumbled into one of the huts and immediately collapsed onto his stomach. It was quiet. His breathing grew heavier for a moment, then relaxed. He was angry with himself for allowing Inuyasha to put his claws on him, but he was glad he was able to wound him as well. It felt good to be able to hit and attack Inuyasha, something he had wanted to do for too long. Still, he couldn't quite enjoy it, knowing that Kagome was struggling because of the filthy dog. Why did she have to care about his existence? Why did she have to make him her problem? And why, dammit, dis she not want the help of the young wolf? There was no possible answer for that. Regardless of what she said, he was going to be there. She had no hopes of defeating Inuyasha alone. Koga knew now that the jewel had made Inuyasha excessively stronger. He was no match for a human like her. A simple human.

Sorry for the long wait. School was hectic and along with work I've been busy. But no more school for me so I shall be updating more, for anyone of you who might be reading. This was a short one, but I will have another one posted by the end of the week. Read/Review, loves!