Everyone gasped in fear at the revelation they were now confronted with.

"Ki...ki....Kikyo? Why?" Miroku shook his head. "How?" he had to force himself to speak. She turned her obsidian pits towards him and gave an evil laugh.

"Silly monk. You may be holy, but you lack even the spiritual power needed to see my spirit." She shook her head in mock sadness. "Pity." She now transfixed her gazed on Kaede. "But you saw me did you not?" The old priestess’ eyes seemed to bulge right out of their sockets.

"That was your spirit that passed above me as I made my way to help them? I thought you to be very far away." She began shaking at the realization of what stood before her. Kikyo flashed a wicked smile that seemed out of place on Kagome’s visage.

"I was out gathering souls when a strong force sucked me from my earthen shell." She flexed her hands a bit. "Though I should not complain." She took in a deep breath as if she were sucking the very life from the room. "The power in this body is so much stronger than I was in my true life, much less that animated piece of pottery. I suspect that it still stands where it was left, but that doesn’t matter anymore." She stood herself up. "I now hold the all the power I need to reek my vengeance upon Inu Yasha." She spat his name as if it would burn her very lips. She knocked everyone back with a barrier so that she was left alone with the body of her previously beloved. She brought her hands out in front of her, and held her palms about six inches from his unsuspecting face, which now held a blissful smile. Kikyo gave a malevolent smirk as a dark crackling energy formed around her hands. "It seems that we are both going to die happy."

Two nude figures stared at each other from across an expanse of white. Kagome looked at the world that she now inhabited.

"You know this is pretty much what I expected the inside of your head to be like." Inu Yasha’s eyes grew wide in surprise, and she began to giggle.

"How did you know that I dream about you like this?" He lowered his ears. "Hey! Are you trying to say that my head is empty?" Kagome’s laughter was halted when she realized what he had just said.

"You dream about me naked?" She didn’t seem angry, only surprised. He gave her a sheepish look.

"Yeah, but there is a little more to it than just that." She floated through the achromic expanse to meet him face to face.

"Show me." The statement was coupled with an enticing smile.

They were melting into each other’s gazes as he pushed her back to arms length.

"Stay there." He whispered huskily. He floated backwards the equivalent of three steps, and shut his eyes in concentration. Kagome gasped as an almost impossible landscape built itself around them.

They now stood in a small circular clearing surrounded three-quarters of the way by a thick forest of trees. The last quarter consisted of a steep cliff, from which sprung a waterfall that flowed into a pleasant crystalline pool. The entire scene was bathed in silvery moonlight, but no moon could actually be seen. Kagome pondered this fact as she looked back to Inu Yasha.

She was surprised when her brown eyes fell upon black hair. She gave the human boy a quizzical look.

"You dream about being human?" The look he gave her held many different pleas.

"I always thought...." He dropped his head, "you liked me better this way. You always seemed happier to be with me on my human nights." Kagome cupped his head in her hands.

"Is that what you think?" She let go of him and puffed out her chest with a little pride. This act grabbed Inu Yasha’s full attention. "Well, you are wrong on that point Mister. It’s only you that acts any different on those nights. Your demon blood is part of the man that I love." She placed her finger on his nose. "You, for who you are, not what you are."

He took one last look into her eyes before shutting his own. His ears sprouted from the top of his head, causing a wave of white to overtake his mane. His fangs appeared, and nails elongated. His lids rose to reveal two shining yellow-gold orbs that now gazed around their fantasy world.

"That’s better." she stated, now that his attention was on her once again. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself up to his lips. As they met, an indescribable sensation coursed through every fiber of their beings. Kagome pulled away. "So this is what your dreams are like?"

"No," he smiled, "this is better than anything I could have ever dreamt up." He took her into a deep embrace, and with that statement a series of events occurred that resulted in the only two souls of all time truly coming together in pure, unaltered bliss.

***

The crackling dark energy grew in size and intensity. No one could get through Kikyo’s barrier. Shippou began crying from both anger and fear. All the others had the same question on their minds. If Kikyo killed Inu Yasha, then who would be left to protect the rest of them from her?

The energy had finally reached its peak. Kikyo sharpened her glare.

"The time is now." Her brows furrowed, and Shippou took one last dive at the barrier.

"Noooo!" He screamed, but it was drowned out by Kikyo’s shrill cry of the same word. She had made a move to grab her head, and in doing so released the energy into her barrier, causing it to dissipate. Shippou, noticing that he had made it past the point where the barrier once stood, ran to Inu Yasha’s side and attempted to drag him out of the way.

Kikyo was screeching in pain and anger. Her eyes were clenched tight in agony, and her fists were grasping at locks of her hair.

"No! No! No!" She was shaking her head back and forth in a convulsive manner. "Not now, not when I’m so close!" She dropped to her knees and placed her head against her thighs. "No!" was her last muffled cry as the room filled with silence.

Seeing their window, Sango and Miroku ran over to where Shippou now stood and lifted Inu Yasha’s body. They ran for the hut’s exit in hopes that Kikyo would be too distracted to follow. Shippou chased after them, but took one last look back and stopped. He couldn’t just leave Kaede at the merciless hands of her sister, so he ran back to her.

"Come on, we need to go." He said while impatiently tugging on her arm. Kaede gave him a skeptical look.

"But why, child? The danger has already passed. Why should I tire this old body any more today?" Shippou’s eyes grew wide as he looked from Kaede to the crumpled body that lay in the middle of the room.

"Do you mean there’s someone else in Kagome’s body?" Kaede smiled at him.

"Of course, why else would my sister be fighting for control?" Shippou nodded even though he did not understand. Upon the realization that whatever Kaede was saying meant that they were safe, he ran out the door to catch Sango and Miroku. Soon after his exit, Kagome’s body began to stir. She sat up and stretched with all of her might, and turned to Kaede. Her eyes slowly fluttered open to reveal that they were completely white. She cocked her head in a strange manner.

"I had to fight to get out here. Did I interrupt something important again?" Kaede gave a chuckle.

"For once, Midoriko, your timing was nearly perfect." It took Midoriko a second to understand what she had said. Then, she looked down at her hands in surprise.

"Oh, my! When did I get into this body?" Kaede walked over and knelt beside her.

"I believe that it is a long story, that even I have yet to hear."

***

Inu Yasha and Kagome lie there in each other’s embrace. Neither one wanting to let go of the other.

"I wish this could last forever." Said Kagome snuggling deeper into Inu Yasha’s chest.

"Technically, it can." said Inu Yasha with a sad look.

"There’s a but isn’t there?" asked Kagome in a concerned tone. She heard him sigh deeply.

"Yes, but as happy as I am like this, we aren’t physically holding each other. I want to be with you and have the whole world know it. This way, its only the two of us, which is nice, still, we could never be truly happy this way." He pulled her closer. "We could never have a family, and well, you would never see your’s again for that matter." A single tear fell from his face. Kagome looked up and watched it fall into her hand, but she never felt the actual tear, only the sadness behind it. It was then she realized what he had been saying. Though they could feel each other’s emotions, and become lost in them, they could never truly touch one another. Then the worst part hit her.

"That also means, as soon as one of wakes up for real, we won’t be able to see each other ever again." She shoved herself even further into his chest. He did his best to comfort her, but without the true sensation of touch it did little good. All he could do was emanate a comforting feeling and tell her everything would turn out okay. Even if he didn’t know that for sure.

***
The group had returned to the hut, and all conscious members were sitting around Inu Yasha’s body. Miroku rocked back slightly.

"So, are we going to give him some herbs and try to wake him? I’m wondering because of what just happened. Who knows who we might wake up?" The monk eyed the body on the floor warily. Kaede stood and walked to a corner of the room.

"Herbs are not nessecary here." She came back carrying a bucket. "Cold water will do just fine." She was about to throw it on him when Sango stopped her.

"Wait." She stood in front of Inu Yasha with her arms extended in a protective manner. "What happens if Inu Yasha wakes up? Isn’t he still in his demon form?" It was Midoriko that answered the question.

"The shards are no longer within him, so he has nothing fueling his demon blood." Sango nodded in understanding and left Kaede with her task. Kaede stepped forward and heaved the liquid onto Inu Yasha’s face.

***
"Whenever we wake up, we have to find a way to fix this." Inu Yasha whispered softly. Though it wasn’t a true sleep, Kagome’s eyes were closed and her breathing was even. She made no reaction to these words. This is how she had been since their discussion of how the rest of their lives would be if they did not fix things. He ran his fingers through her hair, and sighed since neither one of them could feel this action. He readjusted himself so that he could look at her now peaceful face, and began to lean towards her lips. He was only inches away, when he felt a strong force pulling him up and away. "Kaaaagggoooomeeee!" He screamed reaching his arms out for her. Her eyes shot open just in time to see him disappear into the sky, and all of the surroundings with him. Tears formed in her eyes. She knew it would be a long time before she saw him again if ever. She could still sense his presence all around her, but she could no longer see or communicate with him. So, she curled herself into the fetal position and cried, floating through the vast space alone.

***

Inu Yasha jumped when the cold water came in contact with his skin. He shook off some of the water and looked around the room with a dazed look in his eye.

"What did you do?" He yelled. Sango and Miroku looked to each other, and then back at the hanyou.

"Well, its nice to see that someone came out in the right body." Miroku meant to be serious, but it came out in a sarcastic tone that earned him a whack on the head. Inu Yasha just glared at him and stood up.

"You have no idea what you’ve just done." His glare changed to a hurt look as he turned and walked outside.

"What’s his problem?" The clueless Miroku asked once again. Sango thought for a moment and turned to the little fox that stood at the door watching Inu Yasha.

"Shippou, didn’t you say something before about Kagome not being Kagome?" He turned to look at her.

"Yes, but I thought you said I was imagining things." Midoriko gasped, causing everyone in the room to look at her.

"How did this happen? I thought it weird that I was here at all, but none of this should have happened if the jewel had completed itself." She looked at the pairs of eyes that were on her. "It did complete itself. Didn’t it?" Everyone’s gazes then tuned on Miroku. He laughed nervously and held up three shards. "That would explain a lot." she said rolling her head. "Still, all is not lost, we merely need one more shard to fix everything." Miroku shifted and laughed again.

"Umm..about that.." He was cut off by a loud thud from outside. Everyone ran to see what had caused the commotion.

***

When the group made it out of the door, what they saw confused everyone. Inu Yasha was face planted into the ground under a tree branch.

"What are you doing?" asked Miroku. Inu Yasha growled and pulled himself up.

"What does it look like you stupid monk?" He looked at the spot he jumped from. "Need to find a bigger tree." Then he took off running deeper into the forest.

"What was that all about?" Sango looked to Midoriko for an answer.

"How should I know? But I do think we should go after him before he truly hurts himself." Midoriko, Sango, and Kaede took off in the direction of the well, since the largest tree in the forest was near there. Miroku and Shippou, followed the path taken by Inu Yasha in hopes of catching him before he killed himself.

About an hour later, The group dragged a kicking and screaming hanyou in through the hut door.

"Let me go," snarled Inu Yasha, "I know exactly what I’m doing." He was too strong for the group to carry normally, so Midoriko tapped into some of Kagome’s power to make a binding shield around the crazed half-demon. Once everyone was inside, she put a new one up around the hut and released Inu Yasha.

"Well, now nobody comes in, and nobody comes out." Midoriko stated as an irritated Inu Yasha attempted to run out of the door, only to be repelled back into the room. She then turned to Miroku. "You were about to say something before we were interrupted?" He has to think for a moment to remember what was he wanted to say.

"Oh, yes, it was about that fourth shard." He halted what he was saying to look at Inu Yasha, who was currently banging his head against the wall. Miroku took a deep breath and sighed. "I was going to say that there are no actual shards of the jewel left. When it came out of Inu Yasha, it kind of," he put his finger up to his mouth as if looking for the word, "disintegrated?" He put it out as if it were a question. Two sets of wide eyes were set upon him. Inu Yasha ceased his banging and walked over to him.

"Please tell me that I did not just hear you say that all but those three shards of the jewel have disappeared." He brought a clawed hand into Miroku’s field of vision.

"I think he meant to say that it turned into powder, then spread itself into the air." Inu Yasha turned to Midoriko. "I was alarmed by his statement as well, but that should not have happened. There is no way that could have happened." She stepped up and put herself between Miroku and Inu Yasha. Then she placed her hand in front of the monk’s face. "May I see the shards you do have?" Inu Yasha backed off as Miroku put a trembling hand into his robes and pulled out the three shards. Midoriko plucked them from his hand and inspected them. "Hmm." She paced in a small circle as she studied the three pieces. Then, she looked back at Miroku. "They made it into the wind of the void, did they not?" Miroku looked around for and moment before he spoke.

"Yes, they were too much for me to keep a hold on." He presented the cuts on his fingers as proof. She stepped back up to him, took his hand into her’s and stared at the wounds. Once she was satisfied, she lifted her head, and shook it.

"That explains everything." She looked deep into Miroku’s eyes. "I know you had good intentions, but at the same time, you caused so many problems." She let his hand drop and then sat on the floor. "I suggest that all of you sit on the floor and hear what it is that I’m about to tell you." Everyone sat down in the circle, even Inu Yasha thought that it might be important enough to listen. Midoriko swallowed in preparation to speak. "What I’m about to say may shock and alarm you beyond all reason."

"As if that hasn’t already happened. Either you spill it, or I’m getting back to something that is a little more important to me right now." Inu Yasha glared at Midoriko. She put her hands up in a defensive motion.

"Okay. How should I put this. The act of completing the jewel dealt more with its power than with its physical appearance. However, there is only one way for this to be accomplished, and that is for holy blood to be spilt upon the shards themselves." She looked around to see if what she said had sunk in before continuing. "When the shards were pulled from Miroku’s reach, they cut him, and his blood caused the power of the jewel to released form them and into the portion that had already been completed. With there being that extra power in the jewel, but not quite as much mass, it reacted by breaking into the most manageable pieces. There is nothing to fear though, not only had Miroku’s blood released the power in those shards, he set it up for a great opportunity." Inu Yasha jumped up.

"Wait a minute, are you trying to tell me that Miroku’s blood was considered holy enough to screw the jewel up that much?"

"Please, calm down and I will finish." Coaxed Midoriko. "Since the jewel was not purified before the release of it’s power, we have the chance of converging all of its power into one shard." Her expression showed excitement.

"I thought the jewel was in powder sized pieces, how are we supposed to get a shard out of that?" Sango seemed to be in an observant mood.

"That’s just it." Midoriko turned to face only Sango. "With such minute pieces, anyone possessing them does not receive any boost in power, but if a body contains enough grains of the jewel, they will come together upon that body’s demise, and form into a single piece that will attract that power." Inu Yasha became even jumpier.

"That means Naraku may have already done it!" He began pacing back and forth. "We have to get out there now!" Midoriko turned to him. Being caught in a gaze that looked so much like Kagome, but was not her at all caused him to stop in his tracks.

"Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself. There is a small ritual that needs to be preformed with the shard that would cause it to draw the power. Besides, I do not believe Naraku will ever be a threat to you again." Her eyes slanted in an intense glare. "I do suggest that they rest of you get some rest tonight. If I am guessing correctly, you will need all the sleep you can get for tomorrow." Shippou was already yawning heavily. Sango, Miroku, and Kaede went about setting up their sleeping materials, and making plans about what they would do the next day. Inu Yasha had returned to the task of banging his head on hard surfaces.

As the unenchanted of the room began to settle, Shippou took a glance between Sango, who was lying down, and Midoriko who was standing in a corner staring at the suspiciously crazy hanyou. He stepped up to Sango, and in a quiet voice spoke.

"Sango, is it okay if I sleep with you tonight?" He looked so innocent, clutching his little blanket to his chest. She smiled warmly at him.

"Of course." She lifted her arm and he snuggled in next to Kirara. She turned her head to Midoriko. "You aren’t going to be falling asleep on us tonight are you?" Midoriko stopped staring at Inu Yasha to answer her.

"For once, I feel quite rested." She turned back her former object of interest. "And quite entertained." Sango smiled and fell asleep.

After an hour of watching Inu Yasha’s attempts maim himself Midoriko decided that enough was enough. She marched over to him and grabbed him by the collar of his coat. Then she whispered into his ear.

"I’m surprised your little escapades have not already woken them up, but my curiosity has finally gotten the better of me. Is this insane obsession to knock yourself out some sort of unknown side-effect from housing those jewel shards?" Inu Yasha glared up at her from his current position.

"You really haven’t figured it out, have you?" He forced out an annoyed breath. "If you put me down I will gladly tell you what is going on." She released his collar, causing him to fall slightly. He dusted himself off and sat down. The two sat talking throughout the night, with Inu Yasha leaving out the more intimate details of his experience. Once he reached the point where he was pulled away, he lowered his head.

"Kikyo and I never encountered each other while this body was unconscious, and this is the first time that you and I are truly meeting to speak with one another. How come it was different between you and Kagome?" She had so many questions running through her head, but it was this one that perplexed her the most.

"I’m not in love with you." His voice was low and raspy, Midoriko missed most of it.

"What?" She leaned in a little closer in hopes of hearing him. He lifted his head.