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Disclaimer: I just noticed I didn't have one of these. But nope, I don't own either InuYasha or Hakuoki.

Sentience

Chapter 8: Mirror Image

By Leoncia (AisuKaze)

Kagome had never doubted much of her actions and choices in her life. There was no reason to, since she couldn't go back and change the past. Even if she had the ability to travel back and forth 500 years Kagome knew she wasn't changing the future, she was simply fulfilling her role in that particular part of history. But the morning she woke up with a headache that felt like she had been bludgeoned repeatedly on her head, she began doubting her ability to hold her liquor. She would have to ask her friends what—and how much of it—she drank so she would never even get a whiff of the stuff again.

Keeping her eyes shut Kagome began to berate herself silently, curing into a ball and wrapping her arms over her head. She felt strange as smooth silk slid over her arms as she pulled her bed sheets over her head to block out any light, but at that particular moment she wasn't too worried about it. After all, a hangover this bad certainly took precedence over remembering when she had updated her bedding.

While she laid there and tried to nurse her headache down to a low throb she felt something furry twitch against her hand. She touched it again and felt it twitch more rapidly. Feeling further she noticed that she could not only feel the furry thing under her hand but she could feel her hand on the furry thing, as if she was touching a part of her own body. The more she felt, the more and more it dawned on her that the "things" were actually ears—much like InuYasha's when she really thought about it.

With a swift movement her other hand flew to the opposite side of her head and felt another InuYasha-like ear there as well. What's worse is she kept feeling as if she was touching her ears but they were way too pointy, furry, and in the completely wrong place for them to be her own. Kagome's eyes flew open as she realized that they were actually her ears. She soon regretted the decision. Light blinded her eyes and made her already hurting head pound more. "It feels like my brain is trying to break out and run away…" she thought.

Kagome tried not to panic, opting to think of something else besides how her new ears appeared; she chose to focus on the sounds around her. She heard people whispering, one of the voices she recognized as Sanosuke's.

"Are you sure?" she heard her spear's deep voice ask.

An equally deep voice responded, "I am sure. Her Miko blood has been completely annihilated." Kagome could recognize the voice, but she couldn't put a face or a name to it.

Sanosuke and the other man continued their conversation as Kagome realized what it was they were talking about. "Her Miko blood has been completely annihilated? What are they talking about?" She decided to stay quiet and listen a little longer.

"I'm not going to ask how that's possible, since you're probably as baffled as I am… but I'm just wondering why it would happen." Sanosuke mused.

"You do not know the true intentions of a Miko do you, spear?"

Sanosuke's voice sounded frustrated, "My name is Sanosuke Harada, not spear. And really, I don't know. I always thought they were just shrine maidens that took care of a Deity's shrine."

Kagome's ears twitched as she listened to them and she found that both of their voices were gradually soothing her headache away.

She heard a sigh and the mysterious man spoke again, "A true Miko is born with the power to oppose Demons. Their existence is an enemy to all of my kind. They're able to purify us and wash away the fact that we even lived. Your Miko just happens to have some of the strongest purification abilities that I have personally seen, even without her soul completely intact."

Kagome inhaled sharply and held her breath. "They're talking about me aren't they?" And sure enough, when Kagome tried to call upon her priestess abilities, nothing surface and it left her feeling hollow. "But what does it mean? What happened to me?"

She recalled last night's events. Kikyou had shown up, shot her with an arrow and from there Kagome really couldn't remember much.

"She's awake." Sanosuke said.

"Indeed."

She heard the soft rustle of silk and the sounds of footsteps coming closer to her. "Miko, open your eyes and look at me." It was the unknown man.

Kagome did as he asked, her eyes slowly opening as she looked up into a pair of golden eyes. They stared unblinkingly into hers. He spoke again, "You have heard everything we have said, have you not?"

She nodded, not taking her eyes away from his, "Yes… I did…" she all but muttered.

"You are confused." It wasn't a question, more like a fact. Kagome nodded again.

"Do you recognize me?" he asked.

Kagome tore her eyes away from his and took a small look at him. She only had to focus on the blue waning crescent moon on his forehead to instantly know who he was.

"Sesshoumaru." She paused and added, "Lord Sesshoumaru, I mean."

"Hnn. Yes." He nodded and watched as the woman sat up. She was disoriented and he could tell she was in a lot of pain as she moved and looked about. He asked her another question, "Have your eyes always been blue?"

Kagome looked up at him in shock and he could tell that no, they had not always been blue. He held up a hand to keep her from speaking, "Never mind." The Demon Lord turned on his heel and walked away, only to return moments later with a mirror he had taken off of a wall nearby.

Sesshoumaru held the mirror in front of Kagome and watched as her reactions went from confused, to panicked, and a multitude of others before she finally looked at him. "What happened to me, Lord Sesshoumaru? And why do I have ears on top of my head? And these markings…"

Kagome had a feeling she knew what was going on, kind of, but she wanted Sesshoumaru to be the one to tell her. She didn't want to fathom up something that crazy and the last thing she knew Sesshoumaru was not, was crazy.

"I will let your spear tell you the details. For now know that you are safe from any more sudden attacks. Take this time to rest. I will have food sent to you. While I am away you are free to move about as you please." He was moving around the room as he talked, placing the mirror back in its rightful place and gathering his swords up from their position against the wall. Finally he grabbed Sanosuke and handed the spear to her.

"While you're away, what do you mean? Where are you going?" Kagome asked as she gratefully accepted Sanosuke and hugged the spear to her chest, nuzzling her face against the wood. She felt the hum of Sanosuke's soul in the spear and let out a sigh of relief. She was happy that Kikyou hadn't done anything to him while she was unconscious. Sanosuke's own consciousness returned to her mind in gentle waves. As his presence settled Kagome noticed her headache was entirely gone. Her eyes fluttered as they slowly closed.

Sesshoumaru looked at her for a long moment, taking in the reaction the woman had once her spear was returned to her. After a long pause he spoke, "Sesshoumaru is appropriate for you to use now. Do not begin calling me Lord after all this time simply because you are in a state of confusion and weakness from being attacked."

Kagome's eyes opened and she looked at him, and without missing a beat Sesshoumaru continued. "I will be away for a few days. While I am searching for more answers as to your changes, I will be searching for the half-breed as well as your other companions. Your kit is in the next room over. However, he will be coming with me."

"Coming with you? Why is he doing that? And just where am I, anyway?" she asked with a hint of worry in her voice.

Sesshoumaru's left eyebrow twitched just a little bit and Kagome didn't miss it. "He will be coming with me just in case I happen to find your missing companions. He will serve as a sort of sign of truce should they attempt to attack me."

Realization crept into Kagome's mind. It made sense, after all. Every time that InuYasha saw Sesshoumaru he would try to fight him. The others would usually stay out of their way, but if something terrible was going on and they saw Sesshoumaru as another threat, Shippou would be there to show it wasn't so in that particular case.

As for her last question, Sesshoumaru decided he would leave that for her to figure out. Without another look at her he turned to leave, "And I will share a bit of advice with you, Miko. I recommend that even if you wish to go where you please, I suggest you not until I return. You may find yourself tripping over yourself if you decide not to be patient."

He left then and Kagome heard the sliding and the clicking of the shoji screen as Sesshoumaru left. She could hear his footfalls echo down the walkway outside and began to wonder if her hearing had improved.

Sanosuke's voice fluttered in her head, "Kagome…"

As she readied herself to respond she felt the energy of his soul enter her body. The warmth she remembered from the first time he had done this, returned to her slowly. A pair of strong arms wrapped around her and pulled her backwards, into a firm chest. Next to her she saw legs covered in loose, solid black hakamas. The left leg bent upward as Sanosuke shifted so his body was snugger against her.

Dark red hair spilled over her chest as Sanosuke's head came to rest on her shoulder. While he hugged her, Kagome took the time to have a closer look at what she could see of the man. His hands and forearms were wrapped in white and red bandages, his fingers and knuckles left bare. She could tell he wasn't wearing an inner kimono or a haori as the rest of his arms were bare. Kagome soon realized that he was wearing a very short, and very thin, haori type thing that was bordered with red on the short sleeves that left her with a very good look at his muscled biceps.

Curiosity got the better of her as she reached a hand up to try and touch the hair that lay against her. She was pleasantly surprised when she felt the smooth locks flow through her fingers, and noticed that his hair was more than likely tied back in some manner. Even though he was partially see-through, Kagome could still touch him.

The grip on her seemed to lessen at the touch, as if Sanosuke was relaxing, and she ran her fingers through the hair again. Quietly she asked, "What's the matter?"

The tight grip was back and slightly painful to her as Sanosuke's voice came out in a low, gruff mutter, "I felt so helpless after you were shot. Your body froze, and I couldn't move. My soul was shoved back into the spear because it flew away from you and then it was too far away and I couldn't reach you. Sesshoumaru had to kick me to you." He didn't sound happy, but when he mentioned Sesshoumaru kicking his spear he sounded down right angry.

With her free hand Kagome laid it on one of his and gave it a squeeze, "You know that's not your fault right? I'm the one who let go of the spear, not you. This is my body, after all."

Sanosuke didn't say anything. He just held onto her and stayed in that position for quite some time until they heard a light knock on the screen door, followed by a female's voice.

"Lady Kagome, may I come in? I have food and a change of clothing for you. I have also been instructed to check your wound."

Forgetting about the wound Kagome looked at her arm and she noticed she felt no pain, even with Sanosuke's tight grip on it. "How long have I been out?" she wondered.

"I think my wound is fine, but I'd appreciate the food and clothes! Come in, please." With that the door slid open and Kagome saw a delicate figure scoot inside on her knees, turning half-way and closing the screen behind her. With her she brought what she promised, a tray of food along with tea and a black and white yukata.

The woman was obviously a demon, and a Kitsune at that. She resembled Shippou in many ways, except she sported five tails where Shippou only had one. A soft pair of orange eyes looked to her, widened at the fact that there was a see through man clinging to her Lady.

"My…my lady? What is—who is that?" she asked, dumbfounded, as she pointed to Sanosuke.

Kagome blushed prettily and tried to shrug Sanosuke off of her. He didn't seem like he really felt like moving. "He—ah, he's my spear. He's a sentient weapon."

The Kitsune's eyes widen with recognition as she nodded and smiled softly. "My father had one, a female soul inside of a katana. I understand now." She stood and carried her light burden to Kagome; setting it down in front of her once she was close enough.

"Do you need help with anything?" she asked while reaching into her kimono's sleeve and producing a pair of wrapped chopsticks and offered them to Kagome. Yuuki wanted to check her wound, but the demon could tell she didn't have a snowball's chance at getting close enough to do that with the sentient weapon attached to her as he was.

"No, I don't, but thank you anyway. Though I'd like to know your name if that's all right?" Kagome said with a soft smile as she managed to coax Sanosuke into at least letting one of her arms go so she could reach forward and grab the chopsticks that were being handed to her.

The maid blushed and fidgeted with her hands. Apparently she wasn't used to the attention. "You may call me Yuuki."

"Yuuki…" Kagome said the name with a friendly ring to it, which only served to make the maid even more fidgety. Kagome looked to her with worry and asked, "What's the matter, Yuuki?"

Yuuki only glanced at Kagome's eyes as she spoke, "Because the guests that Lord Sesshoumaru has hardly paid me with the attention that you have. And after all, one of your station should not have to have a conversation with one of my status."

With confusion clearly in her voice Kagome asked, "My station? What do you mean?" She came to the conclusion that she was located somewhere within Sesshoumaru's domain, but hearing the Kitsune demon refer to him as her Lord, the assumption was proven correct.

Yuuki raised her eyes to meet Kagome's, "You are a Daiyoukai, much like my Lord Sesshoumaru. It is only common knowledge that I pay you with the same amount of respect that I do my Lord."

Sanosuke's grip tightened as his head flew up. He craned his neck to see Kagome's face, "Kagome, I was going to tell you but I…" he paused. He didn't have a good answer. He offered an apology instead, his hands sliding down her arms to grasp her hands gently. "I'm sorry."

Kagome felt dizzy and went limp, chopsticks forgotten as they fell on the floor with a clatter. She had an idea what was going on with her, but this? This was a whole different story. She collapsed even further against Sanosuke, an act that made Yuuki crawl forward quickly and reach a hand out to her. Sanosuke glared at the maid and pulled Kagome away from her.

"Leave us for now, Yuuki. I need to speak with her; alone. Will you make sure no one bothers us?" The tone of his voice, sweet and kind, didn't match the look on his face. A glowering, angry stare was being shot at her and Yuuki took the hint. She quickly gathered herself to stand, bowed lowly and left as quickly as she came. She knew enough about sentient weapons to know that if she angered the soul any further, he was liable to skewer her with his spear after he had taken over her Lady's body.

Sanosuke sighed and rotated Kagome around so she could sit side ways in his lap. With his left knee still bent, he supported her against it and placed a hand on her head and gently pulled it to lie in the crook of his neck. He rested his elbow on his upraised knee and played with her long blue-black locks of hair, twirling it around his fingers.

"Sesshoumaru is even confused by this. He's never seen such a thing in his life, and by the sounds of it, he's really old." He said gently and waited for her response. When he received none he continued, "But he has asked council on it from quite a number of people. He heard a rumor, through those he has so far asked, of a demonic witch who lives far to the north of here. That's where he's going right now."

He fell silent and thought on how to tell her this next part. It was difficult for him to bring up his past—or his future given the current time period seeing as his life would being around 350 to 400 years from now—but either way he felt she needed to hear it. Playing with her hair more, he rested his head on hers and when he spoke, his voice was soft.

"When I was alive…" he noticed that got her attention. The ears on top of her head twitched, tickling his face and causing his mouth to twitch with a grin, "…there was a substance that the Shogunate forced my group—the Shinsengumi—to research and create. It was known in the west for heightening a human's strength, and regenerative abilities. This was, as we found out a bit too late, at the cost of the human's life force. It used up in minutes what it would have normally taken years, if not decades, to deplete."

Kagome was looking at him now, her head tilted back and resting against his arm. He smiled a bit to her, even if he was feeling a bit embarrassed by how she was staring at him. He remembered it was the first time she had seen his face, the times before he had always been behind her or completely in control of her body. Sesshoumaru had seen him, and he was pretty sure Shippou had at some point during the time he was freaking out while Kagome was unconscious.

He felt the heated blossom of embarrassment rise into his cheeks and he reached up with his free hand to meekly rub the back of his head. Even if he wasn't alive anymore, it sure as hell felt like it at times like this.

Sanosuke cleared his throat and picked up his conversation, "We called it the Water of Life, and what it turned humans into, we ended up naming Furies. I lost a few of my friends to this stuff, too. But we found out later that the main ingredient in this potion was a demon's blood from the west. They suffered through bloodlust and an aversion to sunlight."

Kagome shifted against him and he waited until she was comfortable until speaking again, "And those traits were passed onto the humans who took the Water of Life. I gave this information to Sesshoumaru and he brought up an interesting gem of thought."

He paused, "What if what poisoned you had been the same thing? Just with the blood of a Japanese demon instead of a western one? This is what Sesshoumaru is going to find out, if this will have the same side effects as the Water of Life I'm used to. If he can find out any information we might be able to assume that it is the same."

"Effects?" Kagome asked, tilting her head. The entire time Sanosuke was speaking to her, her eyes hardly left his face. He was incredibly handsome, with well-defined features and she could feel through his hold that he was a well-muscled man. His body was lean and he was of a small frame as well, even if he was tall for a Japanese man. She was really surprised she wasn't blushing into the color of a tomato by now.

"Mmhm." He nodded, "When Furies would use their powers too much, and it would result in their lifespan decreasing each time. Every time they were wounded, every time they used their strength and heightened agility… it would take years off of their life until they eventually turned to dust."

Kagome's heart sank. "So you mean if I use my powers too much, I'll die well before I'm supposed to?"

"I'm not for sure," he shrugged. "Furies that I know of only retained their human appearance until they used their powers. Then their hair would turn white and their eyes a glowing red. You, on the other hand, have the appearance of a full-blooded demon no matter what. I, and Sesshoumaru, have a feeling that this is permanent with no danger to your life. It might have been your Miko blood."

He grinned at her, "My soul was still inside of your body when the bloods started fighting each other. It was a chaos storm I had never felt in my life until that moment, and I didn't know what it was… at least until Sesshoumaru explained to me what a Miko is really meant for."

"I think your Miko blood purified the harmful effects of the potion and allowed you to literally become a full-blooded demon, and one that has the powers of a Daiyoukai according to that Yuuki girl."

Kagome began to tug on the sleeves of her haori, nervous. Sanosuke noticed this and gave a bark of laughter, "Anyway, look at this."

He let go of her hair and pointed towards the mirror that Sesshoumaru had earlier used to show Kagome her new appearance. She followed his hand and looked into the long, wall length mirror. She could see herself wrapped up with Sanosuke, who dwarfed her considerably in size, and a grin was clearly on his face. Kagome forced her gaze off of him and looked to herself. She looked the same as she did when Sesshoumaru showed her, but now she took in a more in-depth look at herself.

As she thought, InuYasha-like ears rested on top of her head, twitching every so often as they picked up sounds—mostly Sanosuke's heartbeat and the sound of him breathing—and her ice blue, almost white, eyes reflected back to her with such an intensity Kagome had a hard time believing that they were her own.

She took in the jagged navy blue stripes on her cheeks and the lines of the same color on her eyelids. She guessed that these lines signified her as a Daiyoukai since Sesshoumaru had them in the same place as well. She grinned without humor and saw her canines were now much like the dog-demon brothers she knew and she could only guess her hands now held deadly claws.

Sanosuke smiled at watching her and began rubbing her right ear between his fingers, feeling the silky texture run against the coarse feeling of his battle-hardened hand. Kagome could almost drool. What he was doing to her ear felt extremely good, like an itch being scratched. She heard a faint thumping sound as her eyes half-closed and she silently wondered where the noise was coming from.

Apparently the man holding her had the same question too, because he stopped rubbing her ears and the noise stopped shortly after, though not without a disappointed whimper from the woman sitting in his lap. He pondered a moment and began rubbing her ear again. Sure enough, like he thought, the thumping began in earnest. He laughed loudly and leaned over to get a good look at her rear end.

A blue-black, medium sized fluffy tail was wagging rapidly and hitting the floor beside them. "Kagome, you have a tail."