Twisted Moon by silverchan89

A Strange Acquaintance

Hi, this is my new story Twisted Moon. I have no idea how this story is going to do. I'm going to tell you now that this story will not be updated regularly. Chapters will go up when the need strikes me. I'm working on No Such Thing as Fate right now and I have classes too. NSTF had priority right now until I get closer to the end, which I don't see happening anytime soon. This is just some fun for me and hopefully you'll enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing it. This is a Sesshomaru/Kagome story. This has not been edited but if you see problems, point 'em out and I'll fix them. Like my other story, I will work on Kagome's character first then Sesshomaru will show up to reap his havoc.

Twisted Moon

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Inuyasha characters except those I make up and I don't own any of Rumiko Takahashi's work. Please don't sue me.

Summary: A chance meeting with a strange magic wielding woman, triggers a series of events that blow Kagome's mind and change her life...maybe for the better.

Chapter 1: A strange acquaintance.

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Kagome peeked around the tree curiously at her sleeping camp mates. No one stirred despite the awkward noises she made in her attempt to pull up her sweat pants. She loved the forest and she loved feeling the air against her bare legs as they traveled, however she didn't like being bitten up by mosquitoes and itching like all hell as she wandered through the brush in her school uniform. With a sigh, she made a few half hops and pulled the pants up over her hips and up to her stomach. She let the elastic waistband sit on her stomach and pulled the drawstrings to make it tighter.

With a grin, she put her hands on her hips and struck a pose. She stayed that way for all of 5 seconds before giggling to herself and pulling the pants down to a more comfortable fit around her waist. She reached for a branch that hung low on its respective tree. Her nightshirt hung from the branch dangling playfully in her face.

She walked closer and stood on her toes in an attempt to pull the shirt free. It was easy getting the shirt up there, it was getting it down without ripping it that made this all the more frustrating. Kagome tugged at the top a few times and only managed to shake free specks of bark. The branch creaked its displeasure and Kagome stopped afraid she would wake Inuyasha, or even worse, Shippou.

She turned and peeked back into the camp. Inuyasha was dangling like a wet rag from his branch, his face was set in that forever-present frown and his lips were puckered in a manner that suggested he was eating a lemon in his dreams. Kagome shook her head amused and looked to the lump in her sleeping bag. He moved with each gentle breath and she wondered if Shippou would notice she was gone. He was certainly sleeping well without her.

Sango was stretched out on top of a sleeping bag Kagome had provided for the older girl. After almost six months carrying the thing, Sango still refused to actually sleep in the bag. Kagome figured it was some kind of warrior instinct that demanded she be able to move at a moment's notice.

Miroku was laying directly opposite of Sango. The Tajiya had knocked him out with a sharp left hook but he had settled into a deep restful sleep for the night.

Kirara…was missing.

Kagome stepped into the camp and looked around for the fire cat thinking she had over looked the female. With another sweep of the area, she realized that Kirara was indeed missing.

She didn't blame Kirara. Kagome's plan for the next hour had been to wander around near the camp and work off some stress and energy so she could sleep, she didn't see why Kirara wouldn't be allowed to do the same but she was still worried. The fire cat never left her mistresses side.

Kagome looked back at her dangling nightshirt and shrugged. Her uniform shirt worked just fine, she could get it down when she came back. Taking up her bow and arrows, she stepped into the forest near where she had last seen Kirara and looked around. She walked further in.

"Kirara?" She whispered.

Hearing no response she wandered further into the forest.

The soft sounds of the forest soothed her and gave her confidence to keep going. She knew for a fact that those cliché movie dramas where everything got quiet just before the shit hit the fan were in fact real and helpful for helping you survive.

Something rustled in the bushery followed by a squeak. Kagome paused when Kirara sauntered out of the forest dragging a rather large rat with her.

"I was looking for you. Midnight snack?"

Kirara gave a soft mew and glanced back at her capture. Kagome sat down and Kirara dragged the rat over to Kagome. She dropped it before the Miko and nudged it toward her. Kagome blushed and fought the urge to coo.

"Aww thanks, Kirara but," her smile fell and Kirara blinked at her with giant red eyes, "I can't eat that, it's your food," Kagome laughed nervously. Kirara took no offense, and with a visible shrug, she dug into her meal. Kagome stood and glanced around the area. It was actually nice and clean and she could see the stars clearly through the canopy.

"I was thinking of doing a little wandering, would you go with me?"

Kirara licked her maw and looked at the young Miko. Kagome glanced around for the dead rat and found no trace it had ever been there. With a shrug, she looked back to Kirara. The fire cat trotted over and looked to her for instruction. Kagome nodded to herself, "Let's go that way."

She started into the forest and Kirara followed. Kagome didn't find much of interest. A few warped trees and some random herbs later Kagome was bored and tired, "Ready to go back?"

Kirara mewed and turned prepared to lead her back to camp. Kagome paused and Kirara perked up. A flash in the forest caught Kagome's attention. Her gaze darted toward the light and she saw a blur moving though the forest. Kagome blinked rapidly and darted for the nearest tree to hide behind. Kirara joined her. The cat scrambled up the tree bark and hopped onto her shoulder.

Kagome ignored her to pay attention to what was happening in the forest. The blur appeared again in another area and a second blur appeared soon after she spotted the first. The second blur was definitely youkai but she wasn't quite sure about the first. The first blur was moving for the river and its attacker was simply following. Kagome glanced over her shoulder in the direction she had bathed earlier that night where another part of the river flowed.

She looked back toward the chase happening in the forest, there was another flash of light. Kagome wasn't sure who it came from but there was a crack telling Kagome it was probably an attack. she caught a glimpse of long black hair before both blurs vanished again. Kagome closed her eyes and found that the chase was still moving for the river.

Kagome pulled an arrow from the quiver and raced toward the river. She burst onto the narrow riverbank and closed her eyes again ignoring Kirara's mew of protest. She found the direction of the fight and raced along the riverbank. The bank suddenly spread into a rather large clearing. Kagome was rather surprised she'd beaten them to the bank but she wasn't complaining. She ducked into a bush and waited. A woman in a Kimono ran from the forest. She was rather short, coming only to Kagome's shoulder but lean and beautiful. Her Kimono was royal purple dancing with pink butterflies and her hair was pulled into a high ponytail. Kagome thought she was a Hime of some kind until she saw the woman's bear feet. There was an expression of determination on her face, not of fear. In her hand, was rather thick stick carved intricately with designs and decorated with leaves and a bell that didn't make a sound even as she swung it around in her frantic race. Suddenly she fell and did a sliding face plant stopping when she could see her reflection in the river.

The woman ground her teeth in pain and rolled over revealing a tear in the first layer of her kimono and a busted lip. Kagome cringed in sympathy and moved to go help her when the demon burst from the forest. The demon closely resembling a young man but his face contorted in rage and warped into something frightful.

The woman waved her stick and for the first time Kagome heard the bells ring. There was a flash of light and the demon suddenly vanished and reappeared to continue his attack. The woman continued to fling attacks at the demon that was slowly closing in on her. Kagome paused uncertainly, not so sure this woman actually needed help.

The demon was very close now. The woman stopped attacking suddenly and turned to the river. The demon sped up and Kagome let her arrow fly before she could catch herself. It flew rapidly, lighting up the area with her power. Both the demon and the woman looked at the projectile startled. The demon jumped back to avoid being hit and the woman flung herself into the river.

The arrow flew into a tree and the light faded. The demon blinked dazed before rushing to the river. He gave a snarl of outrage and turned intent on finding the one who had stopped his attack. He spun on his heel and started directly for Kagome. Licking her lips, Kagome pulled another arrow from the quiver.

There was a crack. Both the demon and Kagome blinked. Kagome's mouth opened in horror when a pillar of water burst from the river. It curved in mid air and shot at the male demon. He turned with a cry. Kagome had already snatched Kirara from her shoulder. She stuffed the fire cat under her shirt and leaned over to shield her from the oncoming attack.

The pillar of water hit the demon and he flew. His back met the tree Kagome had been hiding behind. Water exploded on impact with the tree and smacked into Kagome like someone was spraying her with a water hose. The water roared continuing to pound against the tree and Kagome's form. The torrent suddenly stopped like a faucet had been cut off and Kagome looked up blinking rapidly. Kirara peeked out from her collar and looked around curiously.

A hand appeared from the river followed by another. The woman gave a loud gasp and pulled herself from the water. She took a moment to catch her breath before she lifted her stick and waved it again. The plant life near Kagome suddenly came to life. All of it lunged around the tree and Kagome heard an angry roar. Kagome stumbled away from the waving vegetation and hid behind a tree that hadn't started moving randomly.

She realized it was stupid to duck behind a tree but she was so stunned by what she had just witnessed, she couldn't bring herself to see logic just yet. "You are one annoying demon." the woman commented tiredly.

"You evil bitch. Take this curse off me right now!"

"No, to never touch a human again for your meals, I think it's fitting you can never touch your staple food again." The demon snarled and fought against his bindings.

"There are other things to eat demon," She sighed as if talking to an unruly child.

"I'll eat your heart witch!"

"Hold your tongue demon. You're an idiot, trying to deceive the one who was going to lift your curse. I asked for a specific payment and you swore you could pay it." She sneered.

He snarled something unintelligible.

Kagome peeked around the tree at the scene unfolding before her.

The witch pulled out a knife and pointed it at the demon who glared at her defiantly.

"Now I need compensation for you wasting my time, my effort to help an idiot, and for you chasing me around the forest trying to kill me." She calmly brandished the blade before her captive.

"I need some ingredients for a spell, I need a demons paw, an eye, and a lock of hair. Which should I take from you?" she cooed.

He gave a sharp bark and strained against his bindings. The vines snapped only to be quickly replace by more. He paused and took deep breaths.

"I'm too tired to deal with you," She announced suddenly.

Before anyone could blink, she waved her stick around and the demon was sinking into the ground. He looked around confused and began to scream angrily at the woman, refusing to acknowledge the unholy fear that she was burying him alive. The ground swallowed him up. The woman heaved a tired sigh and turned. She started toward a rather large rock sitting at the banks edge.

"I know you're there little Miko," She called before sinking into a sitting position on the stone. She lifted a heavy wet sleeve and brushed dark hair from her face. Kagome swallowed nervously and crawled for the bow she had dropped earlier. She took it in her hands and stood. Kagome stepped from the forest, her head tilted slightly as she tried to appear confident.

The woman glanced up and snorted. Kagome knew then she had failed in her attempt and so she let her shoulders sag. She glanced to the spot where the demon had just been.

"Did you kill him?"

The woman glanced up her black eyes shining. "I didn't, merely locked him up until I can find the strength to deal with him properly. Does that displease you Miko, He is but a foolish youkai. I won't lose much by simply killing him now?"

Kagome shook her head quickly, "No, no that's okay."

The witch motioned for Kagome to come closer and Kagome did so hesitantly.

When Kagome was within comfortable speaking distance, the woman glanced up. Her eyes flashed with amusement when she spotted the fire cat poking her head from Kagome's shirt. Kagome glanced down and Kirara peeked up at her curiously.

"So what do you want?"

"Eh?"

"What do you want girl," The witch repeated with an annoyed glance. "You helped me for a wish right. You have asked that price of me for your assistance. I must go out of my way to grant some wish of yours to repay my debt. That is the way of witches. You receive something and you give something."

Kagome blinked "Oh, that's pretty cool. You grant wishes like a leprechaun or like celestial maidens or something."

The witch blinked rapidly at Kagome, "Are you stupid or something girl?"

Kagome flushed angrily, "I am not stupid. I actually consider myself pretty well off in the brains department!"

"Then why did you help me?"

Kagome sputtered in confusion, "Because you were being attacked, what was I supposed to do?"

"So you saved me to get your wish." The witch pointed out.

"I had no idea you could grant wishes until you blurted it out!" Kagome retorted.

The witch stared at her a long moment then raised an eyebrow, "What kind of Miko are you that you don't know something so simple?"

Kagome's face fell, "I'm leaving," she announced dully.

"Calm yourself girl. You don't have your wish." The witch grumbled waving a hand back and forth. Kagome turned back around and glared at the female that was suddenly eyeing, not her, but Kirara in rapt interest. She licked her lips like a child eagerly awaiting a treat, "let me see your kitty there and I'll stop picking on you."

Kagome made a face, "Then you can continue to make fun of me because I'm not letting you see Kirara. I'm sure she won't appreciate it and neither will Sango-chan."

The woman scratched her cheek thoughtfully as if confused.

"Right, I'll figure out how to get your kitty somehow. Humans are all the same; give up something small for power and all is right in the world," Kagome's face flushed in anger.

"You can't have Kirara-chan, she is going back to Sango and that's that!"

"I'm not going to keep her. I just want to examine her, maybe take a few whiskers."

Kirara gave an indignant hiss and Kagome wrapped her arms around her chest, and Kirara, protectively.

"No!"

"What a stubborn human." She huffed and tapped delicate pointed human nail against her own cheek, "Just tell me what your wish is and we can move on with our lives." The witch closed her eyes to wait. She heard the crunch of grass and then there was silence.

When she opened her eyes again, she caught a glimpse of Kagome vanishing into the forest. She blinked stunned and smiled amused.

"What a cute little Miko. She really had no idea." Her smile fell, "But now I have to chase the little brat around until I repay my debt. This should be fun."

Moments later the clearing was empty.

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"Kagome?"

"Hmmm?"

"Why is Kirara hiding in your shirt?"

Kagome looked down at the fire cat who peeked up at her with what kagome would say was an innocent expression. Shippou looked a bit miffed by Kirara's sudden love for Kagome and Inuyasha and Miroku only stared. Inuyasha's frown and Miroku's perverted grin told her a lot of what was running through their minds. Kagome looked back to Sango as the older girl dished out dinner, Ramen, everyone's favorite.

Miroku took his bowl with a sigh and Inuyasha happily began to inhale his meal.

"I- ugh- don't know."

Sango looked skeptical, "She used to hide in my kimono when I was younger but she hasn't for a while now," Sango commented off handedly.

Kagome looked to Kirara silently willing the fire cat to move.

Kirara's claws caught in Kagome's bra making her flinch.

"Hey, I don't know what the hell your problem is Kirara but get out of there," Inuyasha demanded of the fire demoness. Kirara shot him a stare before pointedly looking away. The Inu hanyou bristled in anger.

"Kirara…" Sango began only to be cut off.

"I didn't know cats could be little bitches too."

Everyone's jaw dropped, nobody ever started fights with Kirara but they could all see it coming, Kagome moreso than the others and she could see the argument ending like a bad train wreck. Kirara hissed at Inuyasha, "I don't give a shit what you want, get out of there." He snarled in response.

Kirara yawned and turned her nose up at the Inu Hanyou.

Inuyasha dropped his empty bowl and grabbed the cat by the scruff of her neck. Kirara hissed and in response her claws dug into both Kagome's shirt and braw.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome shrieked angrily.

"Be quiet bitch, I'm trying to get her out of there!"

Shippou watched this all with a mildly horrified look on his face. Miroku covered his mouth to hide his shock.

Sango watched this all with mounting disbelief.

"Inuyasha stop, it's okay. I'll get her out myself." Kagome grabbed his wrist trying to coax him to release the fire cat.

"Kagome, be still so I can get her out!" Inuyasha demanded angrily.

"You are not going to start a fight with Kirara. Let her go Inuyasha!" Kagome yelled.

She badly wanted to yell the subjugation spell but she could see that ending badly.

Inuyasha gave a yank. Kirara yowled and dug her claws in Kagome chest. Kagome gave a shriek of pain and released Inuyasha wrist in favor of prying the cat demons claws free before they did more damage. With another yank Inuyasha had Kirara free but not before ripping up Kagome's shirt and braw. Kagome gasped in pain quickly covering her chest.

Sango was rushing Inuyasha with her hands out stretched as if to strangle the Hanyou. Miroku looked horrified and sat in shock, no kind of perverted expression or thought in his being at that moment. Kirara was yowling, her body stiff as a board as she hung in Inuyasha's grasp.

Kagome cringed in pain, tears in her eyes. She peeked down and was met with the sight of her blood-stained sleeve. She hopped to her feet just as Sango snatched Kirara from Inuyasha.

Inuyasha's jaw hung open in surprise; he was even more surprised when Kagome's palm met the side of his face. His head snapped to the side and for a moment, he saw red. He turned back to Kagome and reared up to scream at her when her hand met with the side of his face again.

"I hate you Inuyasha!"

With that, she turned and rushed into the forest leaving everyone behind her stunned. All eyes turned to Inuyasha and the look of misery and shame etched on his face.

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Kagome stopped and crouched behind a tree, her arm pressed across her chest. She rocked a bit hoping the movement would somehow sooth the pain. With a whimper, she moved her arm away and tried to see the wound. It was messy and covered in blood. A tear met the wound and she hissed when it began to burn even more. She wanted a bath, she wanted to clean the wound or do something. With a grunt she stood and raced for the spring she had caught sight of earlier during the day. The water was steaming hot and Kagome mourned ahead of time for the pain she was going to feel. Quickly stripping she slid into the water.

She let out a low moan of pain and sat a moment hoping the throbbing and burning would fade. When she had calmed herself and she figured the pain had faded as much as it was going too, she splashed water over the wound.

"He's such a baka!" she whimpered in pain.

She wiped the tears away with her arm before they made their way to her wound. The tears wouldn't stop and so she just let them flow. However, the bleeding was stopping, and for that, Kagome was thankful.

She dunked herself to her shoulders and glared at nothing as she tried to figure out what to do.

"Kagome!"

Sango burst from the forest. She held Kagome's supplies and Kagome was tempted to thank her but she simply wasn't in the mood. She didn't want to see anyone, she didn't want to talk, and she sure as hell didn't want to be seen. At that moment, Kagome only wished she could run home, curl in her bed and cry. The bone eaters well was almost three weeks away on foot and a week's flight with Kirara. If she tried to leave it would be a long miserable journey she wasn't up for at the moment.

Sango paused when Kagome didn't look at her.

"Are you okay, do you need me to stay?" The Tajiya called in a weak voice. If Kagome didn't know, better she would have said Sango's voice was trembling in sympathy.

Kagome sniffled and sunk into the water a bit more.

"No, I want to be alone." She replied in a watery voice.

Sango made a strange sound in her throat, "I-okay. Here's your bathing stuff." There was rustling around and Kagome knew Sango was setting out her shampoo and soap so it would be within easy reach.

"There are first aid supplies in the bag, I don't want to get it dirty" Sango called quietly.

"Thanks," Kagome whispered still refusing to look back.

Sango didn't say much else, the rustling of the trees told Kagome of her departure. Kagome glanced back at her things set out neatly then looked away.

Licking her lips nervously she rose out of the water slightly to take in the damage. She moaned in dismay when she saw the wounds.

Her left breast had deep puncture wound in the shape of a tiny claw. The claws had been dragged across and up her chest before they had been pulled free. Kagome didn't want to think about what would have happened had Kirara's claws remained in that particular wound.

The other claw mark started at her sternum and drew up to the space just before her collarbone. This one was deeper than the other, and was causing most of the pain. Kagome pressed a finger to one of the thinner claw marks. She hissed in pain before sinking back into the water to brood and cry.

There was an odd click and Kagome frowned in confusion, "A woman's breast is almost as precious as her hair."

Kagome spun around and paused to stare. The witch from the previous night was sitting at the banks edge with her feet in the water as she sniffed each of Kagome's bathing products.

She shook her head in disapproval, "I wouldn't wash that wound with any of these," The woman advised sweeping silky black locks over her shoulder.

Kagome opened her mouth to scream but she paused knowing the older woman was right.

"I'll wash around the wound," Kagome grumbled.

"And what will that do besides make you feel better for all of a day. You need to wash your wounds out stupid girl. You may love that cat like a friend but her claws have been in a lot of strange places, one of the most well known: the dirt."

Kagome pressed her lips together angrily and glared.

"What do you want?"

The witch glanced up, "I have to grant your wish. Did you forget so quickly," She drawled lazily turning over the economy sized shampoo container and reading the bottle.

Kagome debated if she would be able to pick up a rock from the bottom of the spring and fling it without hurting herself further. There was a grumble about crude writing and unnaturally strong smells from the oblivious female lounging at the spring side.

Kagome eyed her a moment before turning away to continue her bath, "I don't want a wish. Leave me alone."

"I have to give you a wish, my honor as a witch is at stake" She shot back with all the patience in the world.

"I don't give a crap about your honor" Kagome retorted.

"I can't work with this hanging over my head. I can't keep clients if they think I'm not one to keep my promises," the comment was made with a distasteful sneer and Kagome knew then that the woman was telling the truth.

"Didn't you hear me!" Kagome demanded.

"Just make a wish you stupid girl!" This comment came with a low growl the hummed over the area and shook Kagome's frame. Having sworn that only demons could make such realistic sounds and having assumed this woman was human, Kagome wasn't sure what to think. She blinked a few times to clear her frazzled mind. Finally, the turn of the conversation dawned on her and she spun around in the water, a flush of rage spread across her cheeks and her face twisting into a scowl that would have made Inuyasha cower.

"Stop calling me stupid! I'm so tired of it! Everyone is always talks down to me and they walk all over me. I'm not stupid, I'm not Inuyasha's bitch to yell at when he feels like it, I'm not ugly!" Kagome screamed at the top of her lungs.

Kagome pressed her hands to her face an attempt to stop another round of tears.

She failed horribly.

After a long moment of gather her wit she glared up at the witch with misery in her eyes, "How am I supposed to ever be competition for people who are pretty like you; someone like Kikyou. If this scars over, I won't even be able to get married back home or even here. This sucks, why do things like this happen to me."

Kagome demanded her voice slowly quieting.

She sunk into the water and let herself cool down a moment and when she couldn't hold her breath anymore, she came up and took a deep breath of air.

"It sounds like you needed to get that out." The witch said gently.

Kagome didn't answer but only looked down at her reflection.

"Would you like to be more beautiful than this Kikyou. There are curses that can make her wither into-"

"No!"

The witch blinked.

"No," Kagome said a bit quieter, "What would that do besides make her come kill me." She gave a slight shrug of her shoulders, "It's not as if I could protect myself if she decided I wasn't worth keeping around anymore."

"So what do you want?"

Kagome glanced up, her gaze tired.

"I want to be Kagome, I don't want to compete against Kikyou for the person I love and I don't want to look like her or be prettier than her. I want to be Kagome."

"But aren't you just like her. Chasing after Inuyasha for his love when he loves someone else-"

"He will like me soon. He already said he would protect me and take care of me and that he loved me!" Kagome responded angrily.

The witch only continued, "…struggling to live up what everyone expects of you as the Miko of the Shikon. That's a big shadow to overcome. You're making yourself her replacement. Even Naraku wants her. If she were to vanish this moment he would come to you and have you take her place."

Kagome stared at the witch and for some reason didn't want to know how she knew so much.

"What makes you think that little boy of a hanyou loves you. He's a neglected child that clings to any type of attention showed to him and thinks it is loyalty and love. If it's not something that wants to befriend him, it's trying to kill him. That is all he knows, that is how he's made it." The witch reasoned with all the calmness in the world. Her voice was strong and each stressed syllable made something in Kagome shake.

Kagome looked away but the other woman continued, "What makes you think you aren't beautiful? You are a woman and you should have confidence in your abilities. If you don't then who will?" Suddenly the smart mouthed little woman had retreated and now standing before her was a woman with a soothing and motherly voice.

Kagome shrugged and looked away, suddenly a lot calmer now that the witch was talking so quietly and with a peaceful air around her.

"I used to think I was kind of pretty, I even had this cute guy at school who liked me. I came here and saw who I was in comparison to everyone else. Sango is so strong and pretty, Kikyou is a powerful Miko that can make Inuyasha beg for an ear scratch if she so wished it. Then I was told from the time I arrived I was modeled in Kikyou's image and was here to finish her job. Even you- you have strong powers and your really pretty, what am I supposed to think when I'm this small average girl surrounded by such powerful beautiful women. I wasn't even all that great back home what's worth noticing about me, a copy."

Kagome glanced up at the witch, her gaze dark and pleading.

"I don't know, only you can answer those questions." The elder woman rested her chin in the palm of her hand and gave a strange grin.

"You know what your problem is, so how do you fix it?" The witch asked with a knowing look.

Kagome was silent a long moment then shrugged, "Go home and return to complete the jewel when all the pieces have been gathered."

"That's running away from the issue."

Kagome scowled, "I have to fix the jewel. This is the only way to fix what I did. Ignoring Kikyou and continuing the journey. If it takes me leaving it all behind so I can make decisions with the jewel later on then so be it."

The witch titled her head slightly, "First of all, who told you it was your fault the jewel broke?"

Kagome paused and thought about it a moment, "Inuyasha…or I think it was Kaede too."

The witch shrugged, "Does it matter?"

Kagome shook her head slightly and blinked at the quick response, "The point is, have you ever wondered what Kikyou would have done?"

Kagome snorted, "Caused it not to explode so this ridiculous journey would have never been necessary."

"You're not getting the point of this whole talk. Very few things could have been done to stop that accursed crow. She could have let the bird go and tried to track it down later, Naraku would have long made his wish if that had happened. Of course, you had no idea about Naraku at that point but let's continue. She could have had Inuyasha go after it of course he didn't trust her and would have taken the jewel and run."

She looked skyward thoughtfully, "She could have tried to shoot the bird like you did, scattering the shards and making sure nothing too bad could have happened for a short while."

Kagome stared at the woman at the shore numbly.

"The point is you made a choice to shoot the jewel, it may have been destroyed but what would have happened if you had the complete jewel at that point with a volatile hanyou and an old woman who can barely move."

Kagome swallowed, "I never thought of that."

The witch smiled, "Of course you didn't, and you wouldn't feel so bad if you had. There are some things you need to sort through, am I right?"

Kagome nodded and the witch leaned forward, "Do you still wish to be better than Kikyou?"

Kagome blinked at the wide grin directed at her but didn't answer for a long moment.

"I wish," the witch leaned forward eagerly, "that you would make this burning stop."

The witch's eyes narrowed in anger. She leaned back her head tilted hauntingly, an angry aura swirling around her.

Kagome allowed herself a sheepish smile, "Don't look at me like that, I made my wish."

She rolled her eyes and reached in her sleeve, she tossed something at Kagome. It fell into the water with a splash but quickly popped back above water. The item floated enticingly before Kagome, bobbing to the rhythm of its own waves. Kagome reached out and took the small container. It was a tiny wooden ball with a smoothed bottom and slight indents where one would put their fingers to twist open the container.

"That's not a wish," The woman grumbled angrily.

"That's what I really want and so it's a wish" Kagome retorted stubbornly eyeing the golf ball sized container curiously.

"That's a salve. The next time I see you I expect a real wish."

Kagome looked at the small wooden container a long moment then glanced back up to the other woman.

"How do you know so much about me?"

A bored glance turned on the young Miko, making her flinch as she met unnaturally dark eyes. Even from where she stood, Kagome could see something dancing in those depths and she would have called it demonic but it wasn't quite worthy of that title. The problem was witches were just persecuted humans, exiled from the rest because they were different. Urasue was different, she had been a demon with powers to do strange things, she had simply claimed herself a witch and no one had questioned her. Kagome could definitely see this woman being exiled from a village because of her dark eyes and abnormal beauty. She jerked when the other woman spoke.

"I am a witch, girl. I have contact with all manner of creatures even some like forest spirits and the gods. You are one of the most closely watched creatures walking the land right now. Everyone with regular contact with such beings knows your story." Kagome blinked rapidly as the shorter woman pulled her feet from the water. She stood and started toward the forest, "Remember what we spoke of girl."

The witch vanished into the forest and Kagome stared after her dazed. She finally sunk into the water and stared at the witches previous seat.

Maybe witches really did exist, and of course she had unknowingly run into one.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The march down the boring dirt path was agony; the tense silence hanging over the group made everything that much worse.

Nobody spoke but everyone felt the rippling effects of the fight from the previous night. As usual, Inuyasha was at the head of the group. He had been marching stubbornly for the next village since dawn and refused to look back or even acknowledge there was anyone with him.

The previous night had been difficult for the Inu hanyou. It was obvious he had been wrong and he had sat up in a tree sulking and staring at her as if he were the one who had been badly hurt. Kagome admitted that he probably had been hurt emotionally and mentally but she wasn't in the mood to sooth his wounded pride. Sango had punished Kirara by having her sleep in the forest just outside of camp but the fire cat had apologized with a few sorrowful mews and licks to Kagome's cheek. Shippou had tried to stay out of everyone's way and had even opted not to sleep with Kagome in her sleeping bag, wary of aggravating her wounds.

Sango and Miroku had been quiet and hadn't tried to speak to Kagome or Inuyasha but everyone was aware the talk was coming; it was just a matter of when it would be a good time to start the conversation. Kirara was sitting on Sango's shoulder for the walk today but was openly staring at Kagome, waiting for some indication the Miko forgave her. Kagome was in the middle of the group walking with Shippou, ignoring everyone as she drowned herself in her own thoughts. She was half-aware of the large red blob that she needed to follow, but anything that needed her full attention was just shit out of luck.

She wondered when she would see the witch again, when she would be able to go home, how she would pull herself out of Kikyou's shadow and move on with her life…

Kagome's gaze focused on Inuyasha's back watching his white hair sway with each step.

How she was going to get over Inuyasha.

The witch had torn down everything she had held dear in the matter of a half an hour but she had also started a new foundation for an obviously lost girl. Kagome was suddenly painfully aware of how immature Inuyasha was and where she stood on his scale of important things to pay attention too.

She had reassured herself for the longest time that Inuyasha loved her, and if he didn't he would one day; that he would appreciate everything she had done for him. Well, Inuyasha didn't appreciate it because he had two goals to focus on and decidedly more important things to worry about. Kagome wasn't as important unless she was stopping him from getting what he wanted, fighting him, feeding him, or being a shard detector. Making sure Kagome felt her time was being spent well just happened to be at the very bottom of that list and Kagome couldn't blame him for the most part.

Regardless she had been hoping for a relationship with Inuyasha later on when they weren't in the center of so much chaos. This alone had given her untold amounts of strength. On more than one occasion, it had given her the needed energy to get up in the morning and keep moving. Now, she wasn't so sure what she had to keep going for.

There was the jewel, but that would end eventually. Any type of relationship with Inuyasha was out of the equation. She was very sure that Kikyou would have her way in that department if given the chance, and boy did the undead woman know how to make her chances. Kagome recalled a few times she could count on both hands and a few of her toes, when Kikyou had waltzed into a situation and turned it to her liking. Afterward, she'd had the option of dragging Inuyasha to her side for a nice little talk, in the center of a deep, dark, abandoned forest, with no villages for miles around, where there could be no reason for Inuyasha not to come to her.

She had ruined any hope of getting a decent job by calling off from school so much, not only would she not be graduating for a long time, she wouldn't be able to get a job now that she had a record of chronic diseases and absence from school. Her life in the future was going to be hard to repair if it wasn't completely ruined for eternity.

If she ended up with Inuyasha, would he mature any more or would she be stuck raising a full-grown hanyou and some poor child born to them. She could swear up and down that Inuyasha was in his two hundreds age wise. Time was said to mature a person. However, if after two hundred something years of living a pretty harsh life, he hadn't gotten anywhere in the maturity department, was there anything on the earth that could get him to act more his age.

Now, there was no doubt that the Inu hanyou had his times of maturity but it was like some hidden instinct that came out only when absolutely necessary. Inuyasha was also an excellent leader but in the way a young soldier is when they are given their chance to shine. They get to blow things up and end up saving lives in doing so, suddenly they are hailed as a savior. Afterward they keep rushing headlong into problems because that was how they got their fame and they didn't know any better. Those scenarios usually ended with the handsome young hero dead in a ditch somewhere with nothing to show for it.

There wasn't much to look forward to in any of her choices.

The thought stopped Kagome in her tracks. Everyone paused and looked at her confused. Kagome stared ahead but didn't see anyone, she felt sick.

"I need to stop."

Inuyasha turned to her for the first time that day looking rather baffled. He went from confused to angry in a split second and Kagome dully wondered if he was bi-polar.

"What do you mean; we have to get the jewel shards. We haven't found any in weeks!"

Kagome noted the cliché and overly used shout that usually started a fight or got them all walking again. She was having none of that today.

She grabbed the straps of her massive backpack firmly in her hands and took a deep breath. Everyone visibly stilled themselves for a yelling match, Sango and Miroku looked mildly relieved at the familiar gesture but Kagome threw them all for a loop when she looked down her own shirt and stood there for a moment.

"I have to dress the wounds again."

That shut Inuyasha up instantly. His mouth snapped closed with a click. Sango glanced to the Inu hanyou then to her friend. The raise of an eyebrow told Kagome that Sango was impressed.

Miroku sighed and using his much-practiced skills, he grab a handful of the Tajiya's behind. He managed a few squeezes before Sango gave a shriek and spun around to smack him. All the action did was remind Inuyasha of what had taken place the previous night. He pressed his lips together angrily and launched himself up into a tree. Kagome, who could care less about Inuyasha's feelings at that moment, dropped her bag and walked into the forest. Sango glared at Miroku but the monk only frowned when his attempt to liven the atmosphere blew up in his face.

"Kagome you forgot your supplies," Shippou called weakly.

Kagome didn't think she could respond without throwing up in front of the poor kit and so she didn't bother to try. She chose a nice little spot in the forest where she had decent foot space, closed her eyes, and began to take deep breaths.

It didn't help much because her stomach still forced up her breakfast in an attempt to alleviate the discomfort. Cool finger brushed against the back of Kagome's neck and a familiar checkered kimono told her Sango was holding her hair back. Kagome dry heaved a few times before she nearly collapsed, dazed and exhausted.

Sango took her shoulders and helped her stand steadily. She led Kagome back to the edge of the forest where they found Miroku waiting with a water bottle in hand and a dripping wet rag. Sango took the rag and wiped Kagome's face. Kagome moaned in dismay at the treatment but let Sango wipe her face down. Sango forced Kagome to sit under a tree and Miroku handed Kagome the water bottle.

Kagome took a drink and gagged at the horrid taste in her mouth. Sango put a hand to her forehead and frowned, "You have a fever." Sango scolded lightly.

With a sigh Kagome looked at her lap, "I feel fine."

"It won't help anyone if you die trying to keep us all happy. We're not going to force you to go on when you can't Kagome." The older girl retorted.

Kagome blinked lethargically wondering if she had heard Sango right and if the older girl realized what she'd said. She quickly decided that Sango didn't have a clue what was going on in her head right then and she wanted to keep it that way.

"I agree with you," Kagome responded quietly.

Sango blinked in mild surprise as she absently folded the rag and pressed it to Kagome's forehead. She forced Kagome back to lean against the tree and Kagome moaned as tight muscles in her back spasmed and slowly relaxed.

Miroku turned to look up into the trees, "Inuyasha, we're done for the day."

Inuyasha growled and hopped down to meet the monk, "The hell we are, we haven't gotten anything done for the last week. We need to find another shard." He snapped.

"So you would rather have Kagome-sama collapse in the middle of a battle and end up getting killed?"

Inuyasha growled something and his gaze flickered to Kagome who was relaxing against the tree the cloth over her eyes and forehead, "Feh, she'll have to move to a camp."

"You can carry her" Sango replied sternly.

"I can walk," Kagome called out in an irritated voice.

Inuyasha glanced at her, "Feh." He took off into the forest and the rest of the group gathered under Kagome's tree to wait for the Hanyou's return.

XXXXXXXXXXX

That's the first chapter, please tell me what you think and if you have idea's tell me about those too.