Reflections

Kagome stared. For a single, horrifying, confusion filled second she though it was Kikyo before her, the female figure that had stepped into the light provided by the fire was cast in dramatic shadows, and it was almost like a painted picture, an old film playing before her. Her sharp intake of breath was almost choking, but then she saw her colour of eyes. It was the same mist blue she found looking back at her when she called upon her reflection.

And then she saw all the little details, and couldn't help but spot the plain irony of the situation. This was clearly, without a doubt, a replica of her, Ka-go-me, and she had just done what she blamed and resented Inu-yasha for doing, which was confuse her own image for that of Kikyo's. But how could she ever become angry at him now that she had done the very same? It was disturbingly obvious that the physical clone standing before the fire could easily pass as her, though the mystery of how it was that she was standing, when Inu-yasha claimed he had seen her die, arouse to mind, it was rapidly shoved aside as other, more important questions made themselves known, such as what in heaven's name was going on.

The wooden stick she gripped like a life line in her hands was rough to the touch, its uneven surface discomforting in her hands. The two Kagomes looked at each other, the real one with a infinite amount of expressions in her eyes, spilling out into the darkness, while the replica was chillingly dull and lifeless, eyes blank and expression one even Kanna would envy. It was disturbingly obvious that this creature was feeling nothing at all.

"The master said I would find you here." Her voice wasn't cold, it wasn't warm, or anything in between. It was toneless, flat, a tune made for droning.

Master? Kagome thought, almost incredulous, but what else would the heartless bastard have the clone he made call him? Father?

Kagome took a cautious step backwards. Could she escape her copy if she ran fast enough? But would they both run just as fast, if they were copies? And Kagome was at a disadvantage, since she was furthest away from the exit…or what she hoped was the exit.

Her hopes plummeted.

That's right, she didn't even know where the exit was, and it was complete darkness a few steps away from the fire. She had no idea how the copy had walked through it, for all she knew, she could be programmed like a robot or something.

Panic was rising. It tasted like bile at the back of her throat.

Was she to die in this forsaken hell hole with her own hands around her neck?

OoOoOoOoOo

"How much fucking farther?" He shouted without even looking up. Kyouko was flying overhead, riding on Tsubasa, leaning low against the cold air that streamed seemingly through them. It was a position Sango and Kirara would have been familiar with.

"I see the cave." Tsubsa's voice replied, and Inu-yasha growled in response, the fire in this veins heightening. He doubted he had ever felt so angry, so desperate, so driven in his life. Kagome was near, and there was a possibility that she…that he might be too late.

He ran faster.

The branches under his feet flexed, bending for a split-second before he was gone to the next tree. His hair trailed behind him like the tail of a shooting star, red hakama billowing and rippling, making the front of his body outline against the cloth, not that anybody would be able to see him at the speed he was going.

'Wait for me Kagome…just be alright. Be brave…'

He could see the cave now too, but it was well hidden. He probably wouldn't have spotted it, even with his hanyou skills, if he wasn't looking for it, but the carriage near-by and the faint sweet scent he could catch splinters of gave it away.

The mere sight of it gave him hope, and he forged forward, increasing his speed yet again, even when it seemed impossible. He was a blur with love and promises tucked inside.

The darkness of the cave was unnatural, a wall that let no light from outside penetrate, so that it went from day to night with a step, no slow dimming until oblivion, but a sudden blindness that overdid the senses, leaving Inu-yasha growling as he literally felt his pupils expand to catch any non-existent light. He could barely see, the feeling reminding him of the dark no-moon nights when he was just a child and had to spend the few hours running away from demons after rich human blood, or hiding from dangers on ground, for he couldn't leap into trees as he was used to.

But the fact that he could at least see the silhouette of the slimy walls, and the occasional stalagmite or internal freezing lake, as well as having his heightened sense of hearing was more than Kyouko or even Tsubasa could hope for, but they got around it nicely, as Kyouko had managed to smuggle another of his night-vision goggle wannabes, and Tsubasa, though her eyes were not dog like and so made for darkness like Inu-yasha, but had the youki quality which allowed her to see sufficiently well to avoid colliding with walls or running head-first into a sword.

The relief Inu-yasha felt when he entered the cave was so strong he was physically shaking from it. He could smell Kagome strongly in the cavern, unharmed as far as he could tell, though by the markings on the ground as he crouched down, and the smell left on the rock and dirt surface, Inuyasha could tell that Kagome had been dragged now-and-then. This puzzled him slightly, for it was as if the one carrying her had to rest by dragging her, but then make haste by picking her up. If it weren't for the circumstances, he would have guessed exactly that, judging by his past experiences with tracking and fleeing behaviour.

Without a backward glance to his two unwilling companions, who could not smell the freshening traces of Kagome, Inu-yasha leaped ahead in silence, his body tense and eyes sharp. He hated how disorientated he was in the cave, but trudged on in new-found hope.

"Damn mutt, he's bounding ahead as if he didn't need out effin' help." Inu-yasha could hear Kyouko mutter darkly, and cursed him silently for speaking. If Inu-yasha could hear him, who knew what else was listening from the ruling shadows?

But he didn't have time to dwell on the black thought as he skidded to a stop before the fork that stood in-front of him. Scents mixed, and he could feel a slight breeze pulling him towards one, as well as an immense amount of youki which only now started to brush his frayed senses.

"Well, don't you even fucking know where she is, you stupid mongrel?" Kyouko snapped, stressed and irritated by the situation and Inu-yasha's begging behaviour one second, and independent streak the other. But worse of all, he hated the fear that was creeping inside him like a monster at the back of your conscience.

Inu-yasha's hackles rose immediately as the human broke his concentration. He was far more worried, terrorised, and desperate than Kyouko, and having the ningen on his back was one thing he did not need at the moment.

He blood boil, the fear in his veins pulsing with his youki, and for a single second he felt he would slip out of control, the weight of the kidnapping too heavy to bear, but a moment later the aura of his sword pulsed, sending a calming pulse over him, but it didn't mean he was any less angry at Kyouko for demanding from him what he already felt frustrated by taking time with.

"Shut your fucking pie-hole, weakling, or I'll-"

But the question didn't need to be asked after all, as it was clear what direction Kagome lay, for her muffled, far away scream cut through their dispute, sending a shiver down even Tsubasa's back. A second later, the scent of her blood hit Inu-yasha on the nose like a slap, not carried but wind, but caught only by his sharpened sense of smell, more efficient by the stress he was under.

A moment of terror-laced shock passed, and Inu-yasha was gone.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Kirara growled in distress. It had been a while since it stopped raining, but they had not even a clue of where Kagome or Inu-yasha were. Miroku hadn't said a single joke, Shippo a single tease, Sango could barely get her mouth round encouragement, let alone insulting the monk. And Kirara was still searching with Shippo, both their noses in the air or a hair's width away from the ground in a what seemed futile hunt- but they refused to turn and walk away from their friends. They had made it through many struggles, and would see the light once again.

They had to.

Suddenly all the hair on Kirara's back raised as if against an enemy. Sango, who had been with the cat demon the longest, knew right away that she wasn't fending something off, but distressed by something she was sensing.

She grabbed Miroku's cloth on the back, and propelled him on her back as she scooped up Shippo. The little kitsune yelped and the monk looked startled, but they both fell quite as Kirara jumped into the air in flamed magnificence, cutting through the chilled, clear air. There were called in aid. Rushing to the rescue.

Just what they had been waiting, hoping, praying for.

oOo

A scream was ripped from her as she knocked the suddenly thrust hands back with her stick, avoiding a direct cut from the now bloody rock that clattered against the stone floor as it flew from the impostor's hand.

It was the most terrifying thing she had ever seen. A nightmare more deep than monsters, demons, death and war. Her lifeless, copying eyes were traumatising doll-like. It was unnatural, the expressionless face she wore. Like a corpse come back to life, a zombie like façade on, the imitating Kagome lunged for the real one, aiming for the neck. She sidestepped and jumped back as best she could, though she stumbled over the mysterious sticks and rocks that were on the ground, as if someone had carried them there.

"You can't run. There's nowhere to go." The false informed her with a toneless voice.

Kagome's blood roared in her ears, her heart racing as if willing her to escape, her breath coming in short, adrenaline laced breaths.

Terror was overwhelming her. Here was a creature with no remorse or regret- no conscience to trouble her. She would kill and torture without a second thought. Kagome back peddled in a desperate attempt to get away from her. Time. That's what she needed. That's all you need when you know you're going to die.

If only she had a little more time…

But the false threw herself at Kagome again, and again, and again. Kagome was being pushed away from the light the fire provided, casting dramatic shadows over the farce like spells, entrancing, menacing, deadly. Something otherworldly and unnatural. A creature of dark.

Kagome gasped and cried out as the girl threw another punch. She was quick and agile, but Kagome's training was taking effect as she ducked and landed her own hits, with seemingly no effect. The rounded each other, a brutal dance, the fire licking the air, warming it and creating a movie-like scene.

Sweat trickled down Kagome's face as the kicked sideways, and the false tried to knock her feet from under her. Kagome managed to skip away just in time, and was regaining her footing when suddenly she had Kagome in a death grip, her finger crushing her arm as she rat-trapped it.

"No!" Kagome cried out, trying to wrench herself free. Fear coated her thoughts, making the air metallic and desperate.

She couldn't die. Not here, not now.

Inu-yasha…

She could feel…something. She could hear something. Approaching, running, wild.

Fear roared up. She had to escape.

But the girl wasn't letting her go. She yanked Kagome towards her for easier torturing access, and Kagome slapped her hard across the face, snapping her head back with a sickening, resounding sound.

Kagome watched in horror as the false didn't even blink. Didn't even hesitate. She looked back at her, cold, chilling blue eyes swallowing Kagome, endless depths of nothingness.

"Let me-" And suddenly she was tumbling back, towards the ring of fire-light. She gasped for air, but took a defensive position at once. Confusion muddled her mind as she stared at the back of the corpse-like girl that had been so intent on maiming her a second ago, and now seemed not to care of her existence.

Suddenly, shocking a gasp off the young miko, the copy-cat threw herself at the ground, unaware of self-damage. She sat up slightly, and Kagome started, both horrified and stupefied at the drastic, tremendous change the girl had undergone. She was no longer lifeless, but had a pained, scared expression on her face. She began sobbing on the ground, and for a second, she thought the girl had come to her senses. Maybe regained access to the body…?

But then she felt it, the aura she had too preoccupied to identify before. It couldn't be. Her face lifted, nothing but shock on her face. It was..

"Inu-yasha!" The name was exclaimed in pure relief. But the word, though in her voice, did not slip from Kagome's lips.

And as she saw the girl, thrown at her feet, covered in dirt, eyes adoring and pained, tears streaking down her face, she understood. In all honesty, the sight was almost heart-breaking. If she hadn't known it was all an act, she would have said it was pure misery in her face. Nothing but pain and love in her aura.

Oh, Kami…

"No, Inu-yasha, don't fall for it! She's not Kagome! I mean, she's not me!" Kagome cursed herself. A faint, ghost-like fear appeared inside her, but at the same time, she trusted Inu-yasha. Foolishly, the same way she knew that this had to be the real him, for she had already discovered the aura of the false one, she was convinced that Inu-yasha would see through the act.

Right…?

Kagome was trembling with exhaustion and fear, and the flames flickered behind her, spilling her shadow like black water in front of her in a long stream. She saw with apprehension how Inu-yasha looked from her to the fake in indecision and surprise.

"W-what?" The girl said, looking from Kagome to Inu-yasha. She suddenly got up and stumbled away from Kagome, while the real one scolded. She wasn't that clumsy…was she?

Oh, damn.

"No!" Kagome insisted, her brows knitting together. She had just had a few of the worst days of her life. Not only was she kidnapped, injured, kissed by violation, thrown into a ruddy cave, no, to add insult to injury, a damn girl who seemed to be play dough itself was impersonating her as if she had access to her character. Well, she was starting to get down-right angry.

"Now listen here, I've had about enough. I've-"

"Enough?" The other shrieked, startling Kagome into silence. "I'll give you enough, you stupid impostor! H-how dare you, first kidnap me, then try to fool Inu-yasha?" She half sobbed, half roared. Kagome gapped.

And the Oscar goes to…

Kagome looked at Inu-yasha desperately, but he was still standing there, staring, looking pained and confused, eyes flicking from one image to another. How was he to know if any one of them was real? Maybe they were both playing him a fool. But…

"No, look, who has the modern clothes? Me!" Kagome exploded, pointing at her garbs. The other Kagome looked panicked. For a second, Kagome thought she had won, but then she noticed it wasn't a I've-been-found panic. It was more a…

"Inu-yasha won't fall for that!" She exclaimed, but with a tone that betrayed that she was afraid of just that. "The youki he t-took it from me." Her voice broke, as if it had been something terrible. Inu-yasha's eyes flashed. Kagome looked at her, outraged.

"Yeah right! Whatever, you dead bitch!" And before she could stop herself, she had thrown the stick at the impostor, which didn't even try to duck in time. Kagome was outraged to see how she cried out as it struck her. Stumbling, she fell, clutching her face and gasping out.

"Inu-yasha!" She pleaded, with such a broken voice that-

And now it was the real Kagome's time to gasp as Inu-yasha's arms was suddenly around her neck, not chocking, but immobilising her. His deadly claws were at her throat as he dragged her away from the still cowed copy-cat. Despair clutched at Kagome as shadows started to swallow them up.

""Inu-yasha.." She wheezed, tears now beckoned to the occasion, squeezing past the corner of her eyes. She struggled in vain against him, desperate to make him see she was the real one, a deep, hollow pain drowning her at the fact that he didn't recognise her.

The copy-cat was looking with round, dough-like eyes, shiny with tears, beautiful with sorrow.

"How dare you even touch Kagome." He snared, a voice so menacing Kagome was almost afraid. Almost. It still hadn't sunk in that Inu-yasha was…was going to…

"I'm going to put an end to this. Kagome, look away. I don't want you to see me kill her." He growled. The copy-cat obediently looked away, shaking, lips trembling in suppressed tears.

"No! Inu-"

"Shut up, bitch." Inu-yasha roared. Kagome fell still against him.

It had been inevitable, maybe. She closed her eyes, prepared. Knowing, resigned to what had to happen now.

And suddenly all hell was let loose.

OoO

A/N

Woah…long time, eh? Well, at least I know where this is going now.

Ok, if this chapter and the few that will come (sooner…hopefully) are crappy, it's because non-AU is the most boring thing I've ever written. It was ok at the start, I was starting out, but now…

Ok, I'm really needing feedback here, obviously. So drop a useful comment, eh? I'll try harder!

And in self promotion, check at my new (yes, non-AU but different) one-shot, Kill Me please, and review. It would make my day.

XD

(I WILL try. Check profile for updates guys!)