Once again Inuyasha is not mine. Thank Lelay for your review. Anyone who reads this, please remember to review. I could really use the feedback.

Mirror, Mirror..

Chapter 3

Inuyasha pilled himself off the floor in time to see Kagome's door shut. "What did you do that for..?!" He didn't receive an answer until a few minutes later, when the door opened. Kagome crossed her arms and looked at him. "Well, you shouldn't have startled me."

"Are you coming back or what?" Inuyasha grumbled. "We have to hurry and find the rest of the Shikon no Tama!"

"Look," Kagome said, trying to get through his brain, "I've got tests, and these are important. As soon as they're done, I'll come back, okay? Why must you continue to do this over and over again?"

Inuyasha grumbled something unintelligible. Half of him wanted to tell her why, the other half blatantly thought something up. "Fine then! I won't bother you and your stupid tests! See if I care what happens to the whole timeline and everything you know changes." And with that he huffed off back to the well. Kagome could only throw up her hands, and shut the door. She had another long night to study.

** * * * * *

Enid's eyes were blurring against the screen against what little typing she had done on her laptop. She took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes. She couldn't think of anything to really write, the next-door neighbors were getting rowdy, and it was late into the night. In disgust she shut down her laptop, and looked around. She sighed, 'It feels so lonely in here.' She looked out her window at the near moonless sky. It was no wonder she was so tired and uninspired. The earth was blocking the moon so it couldn't give off its wonderful aura of inspiration and power. She always loved the moon, when it was white, yellow, she had even seen it blue. Enid called it a night when finally the older woman below her neighbors called in the police. She fed her fish, got undressed and snuggled under the flannel sheets.

She had been hoping for a night of good and sweet dreams, the ones that she could touch and feel the vibrancy and power of real and living things. But she was wandering though deep shades of darkness, like a forest. She could smell the decomposing foliage underneath her bare feet. In her dream, she tripped and met with a decomposing face. Enid stood up sharply right before a white blur flashed at her side, upturning the earth nearby. It happened again, from the front the sides behind her. This was too much- it was too real! Enid crouched down and covered her face before letting out a horrified screech.

Her eyes opened into darkness, her heart beating a mile a minute as her eyes focused on the door, revealing the yellow light of early morning. She had to go to the university for her classes and then head back to the shrine. She had a feeling that today wasn't going to be her day.

She forgot to buy breakfast.

* * * * ****

Kagome stared at the paper for five minutes, before finally writing something down on her history paper. She had totally drawn a blank from last nights studying and was now wracking her brain to remember even as time was running out. She stared at the paper for a few more minutes before the answers finally came to her on some of the questions. Scribbling franticly until the final bell rang. As she placed her papers on the teacher's desk, her two friends came up to her. Kagome smiled, "Mei, Joni. How did you guys do?

Joni rolled her eyes as they headed out of school, "I absolutely failed that one! I just know it!"

"Oh Joni, quit having a panic attack. You know you aced it. You spent a month in that cram school, something must have rubbed off." Mei retorted as Kagome giggled.

"So how did you do, Mei? Being that you kept sleeping during those classes?" Joni asked knowingly, as Mei bowed down her head.

"Definitely failed." Mei replied, "I mean I went in totally knowing what I was doing and then what paper landed on my desk I drew a total blank!"

"So did I." Kagome added. "And it was really weird because it all came to me at the last five minutes!"

"Usually does with you." Mei opened her locker and pulled out a pink sweater and her outdoor shoes. "How many hours have you slept, Kagome? You look like hell if you don't mind me saying." Mei slipped on a sweater as Kagome looked into her locker mirror.

"For once I agree with Mei, Kagome." Joni sung over her pack over her black jacket. "You definitely need a mud treatment or something."

Kagome frowned as she grabbed her jacket. The look of weariness etched around her eyes as she gave herself another look in the mirror. The long hours were getting to her, and there was one more test to take before heading back to Feudal Japan, if she kept this pace up she was going to have a breakdown of some sort if she didn't get a break of one life or the other. Probably both she thought to herself.

"I am so glad that summer break's only a month away." Mei squealed in delight. "Mom said that we're going to the beach and that I can bring a few friends along, Joni, Kagome? How about you?"

Joni grinned, "Count me definitely in! I could use some fun in the sun. Kagome? You going to ask your mom if you can come along?"

Kagome grinned as her escape presented itself. A beach vacation with no Shikon to find, no school grades to worry about, and no Inuyasha to pop up and nag her about coming back. By the time she left, he wouldn't be able to track her down. "Let me talk to mom. I'm sure she'll let me."

They walked together until they came to a bus stop a couple of blocks away. Mei stayed at the bus stop, Joni went across the street to the train station and Kagome would turn right. "See you tomorrow!" Kagome shouted waving goodbye as she trotted a few steps backwards, and ran right into someone, who also fell on their rump. Kagome got her bearings and looked at Enid, who was getting up, and adjusting her bag.

"Sorry." Kagome said, dusting off her skirt and slinging her bag over her shoulder, "How are you doing? Feeling any better?"

Enid shrugged, and her stomach grumbled, "Feh. It comes and goes. I forgot breakfast, so that doesn't make it any better..." Kagome grinned, "Lets head off to the shrine then, Mom usually has something left out for Sota." They headed for the shine in companionable silence.

Sota was so glad he got home before Kagome could grab any of the sweets mom left behind. Grabbing a few into a napkin, he hurried out to meet his friends to play a new game.

Kagome growled, "Drat! He took all the chocolate cookies!  Enid smiled, "Hey, are these lemon ones?" Kagome nods as she heads for the fridge, bringing back two glasses with milk. "Man, I always to think better with chocolate."

Enid grinned, "Calc? Trig?" Kagome's eyes bulged, "No way! I don't think I could ever get that far. It's algebra. I have a big test, I still can't find my book on formulas, I keep getting bothered, and nothing seems to stick" Kagome sighs heavily, snagging a strawberry cookie

"Well I can try to help you. No guarantees though.

******** ** *** * *

Inuyasha leaned haphazardly against the tree. Two more days. Two more days till Kagome gets back. As he was slowly sinking to the same routine, a pink blob bites into his bangs, "Damnit Shippo- knock it off!" Inuyasha growled, paping the blob and causing the fox fire illusion to dissipate. Shippo rubbed his head, the young kitsune pouting. "Grr you're no fun! When's Kagome coming back?"

"In a few days Shippo, you shouldn't be impatient. Lady Kagome has only been gone a day." Miroku replied from the base of the tree.

"Heh, like I care when she's coming back anyways!" Inuyasha hopped off his tree and left the duo at the tree.  "Does he really miss her Miroku?" Shippo whispered to the monk, taking his place on the shoulder. Miroku merely nodded as they headed towards Kaede-baba's home.

Inuyasha headed for a hidden spring that was his very own. Hidden in the forest that was declared his domain while he was pinned to a tree, the spring wasn't hot, but was always clean and clear. He dived in clothed, the fire rat fur that was like armor now had patches of regular cloth, and that needed cleaning. Once they were washed, he flung them to the branches to dry and began to wash the few recent skirmishes off of his skin. Slowly the scent of other demon's blood and slime that had permeated his body, slowly vanished, until the water muted even his scent.  As he lay back to dry, his memories seemed to replay, for some reason Kagome seemed to come to the forefront of his thoughts. How bizarre, he thought fleetingly before Kikyo, the Shikon, and Naraku. He frowned at the blue sky, determined to think of something else, and as he tried, he nearly regretted it as he began to sadly reminisce about his childhood. And when that happened it was always of his mother.

** **** * *** *

"You mean that's how you do it?" Kagome stared at Enid as if she were a miracle. The algebraic equation that had caused her so much trouble moment's before, was intstanly dispelled by simple steps. Her new hero smiled and nodded as, now dressed in proper attire, she was about to go help at the temple. "Yup. Just keep remembering that way and you should be able to take on those wordy math problems. Well I best b off downstairs, your grandpa is going to demonstrate wards today."

At that Kagome grimaced, remembering the fact that grandpa's wards obviously didn't work, Inuyasha proved that constantly. "Don't be too disappointed, E-ni!"

At that, Enid leaned back into the doorway, "E-ni?" Kagome smiled and went back to studying math.

Enid sighed as she watched the poor old man try to use the ward. Poor guy, it wouldn't even stick. After several attempts he made a dignified cough, and handed it to her. "Now, lets see if you can do it. We'll go to the well…"

 Wait, wait, wait. I thought you said that I shouldn't go near there, sir." Enid looked at the shadowed mini shrine, where the Bone eater well was. A shiver ran up her spine as she walked towards it. The priest walked in and waited for her. "No need to be afraid. Now all you have to do is say the prayer and.." He went on and on about how to go about sealing and placing a ward from evil. Enid walked around the well, feeling a tremendous pull…

I found you, still wet from birth, cold, wailing and alone inside the well you were so small, mija and with your mom's help, we took you, never to look back….