I'll reach out my hand to you.

Kagome stayed in the barrier for days. Kikyo had assured them all that she would be reborn and the same. Miroku questioned her taking Kagome's soul. Kikyo stated that the soul was hers and that for Kagome to be reborn, she would have to make her own soul and again reassured them all that she would still be her girlish naive self. Sango did not care for Kikyo's choice of words.

It was a bright day, warm with a small breeze. They all, except for Kikyo, sat around the barrier holding Kagome, just waiting for her to awaken. Miroku looked up at Kagome and saw something; he stood and walked closer. "What is it, Miroku?" Inuyasha asked, watching Miroku get closer. Once he was close, his eyes grew a bit wide. "No," He whispered; he quickly turned to the group, "She is demon Inuyasha," He said with haste. Inuyasha and Sango both jumped up. "What!" Inuyasha said, "What do you mean, demon?" Sango asked,

"Come see for yourself," Miroku stood aside, and the two walked up. "I don't see anything," Inuyasha snapped. "I don't see anything either," Sango pointed out.

"Look, look at her hands."

Both Sango and Inuyasha leaned in and looked at Kagome's hands; she had claws. "Oh, my," Sango whispered as she stepped back. "Just 'cause she's got long nails don't mean she's a demon," Inuyasha said, crossing his arms. Sango and Miroku looked at each other; it meant that to them.

"We shall see Inuyasha,"' Miroku said, not wanting to get into it with him. They all sat back down, Sango and Miokru keeping a watchful eye on the girl. Shippo came out of the hut with rice balls in hand, "Anyone hungry?"

"Yes," They all said together, and Shippo handed out the balls and then looked at Kagome. "Hey, why is Kagome a demon."

"We don't know Shippo," Miroku said, taking a bit of the rice ball. "Kikyo has not returned yet for us to ask her of it." He added, his mouth full of rice. Shippo took a bit of his rice ball and stared at Kagome.

Sesshomaru had returned home to his ward and retainer. He had thought of the Miko when he left, but now that he was home, she had drifted from his mind. But when he had thought of her, he thought of how she would be now that she no longer held the soul she once did. He cursed his brother and hoped he would not run into him anymore; since Naraku was gone, he had no reason to pass him by; in less, he, himself, got the urge to kill the pup. As for the dead Miko, or should he say undead Miko, the one known as Kikyo, he hoped she would not cross his path again either, for he could not promise he would not kill her for her trickery. This was beneath him, he did his part, and he was done; in fact, he could care less if he ever saw any of them again.

"My Lord, I heard the good news that you dispatched that nasty Naraku!" Jaken's voice came with an all-familiar shrill. "Then you heard wrong," His master stated, freezing the toad in place. "Naraku still lives, my Lord!" Shock was the toad's tone, "No, Jaken, it was that of the Miko's doing."

"That lowly human wench who travels with your half-brother Inuyasha!" The toad could not believe it. "Jaken"

"Yes, mi Lord,"

"Begone,"

"Ah! Yes, my Lord" Away with haste did the green toad run; he did not want to anger his master any further. Rin had been next to visit him, with a hug to his leg. When Sesshomaru looked at her, his mind went right back to the Miko; if she were a child, he imagined she would look like Rin.

"Is he really dead!"

"Yes, Rin,"

Rin's hands went together. "Oh, I hope one day I'm strong like Kagome!" The child did seem to look up to Kagome somewhat. But alas, he pushed his thoughts of the Miko away.

Kikyo had still not returned, and it was getting late; Inuyasha was going to go look for her, but Miroku thought it well of him to stay, in case Kagome was to awaken.

"Look," Shippo called, jumping up to Miroku's shoulder. Miroku looked over, as did everyone else; Kagome was moving. Inuyasha stood slowly and walked up to the glowing purple barrier; he slowly put his hand to it and stared at her. Kagome's eyes snapped open, and she leaned forward, her hand on the barrier where his was, and the barrier fell, her into his arms.

"Ka, Kagome?"

Everyone was frozen. Kagome slowly looked up, and her eyes scared him; they were no longer brown but blue and light as a clear sky blue day, and the hands that were holding onto him were no longer meek; her nails were not just long just nails, but claws, Kagome was no longer just Kagome, but a demon.

"I see you have awakened,"

Everyone turned to see Kikyo walking back into camp.

"Inu, Inuyasha," Inuyasha turned from Kikyo back to Kagome. She had whispered his name, and her voice sounded more Innocent than before. "Kagome,"

"I'm so glad to see you." Her hand went to his cheek. Inuyasha stood there frozen for a moment before taking her hand in his and moving it away from his face. "Glad to see you to Kagome."

"Are you feeling ok, Kagome?" Miroku asked, looking concerned. "I feel a bit strange, but, ok."

She did seem a bit confused, "What, what happened?"

Then she asked it, was it that she did not remember? They all looked at each other; they would have to tell her. They would have told her she had died, that Kikyo now held her soul, that it was Sesshomaru who had caught her, that Naraku was dead, and the jewel was gone. "Come, Lady Kagome, and we shall explain," They would all have to have faith that she would be ok, that she would understand and remember. Kagome was the to forgiving type, and Miroku could only pray that she would not be upset about being brought back to life, that she would not freak out when she found out she was no longer human but a demon, and that she would no longer be able to go home, her soul and the jewel were gone.

Once they finished telling her everything, she looked down, and all she said was. "Oh," and then sat in silence, but she then looked up and said, "I have faith in the reason I am here."

I'll have faith in all you do...