A Soul by hopeis4ever

A Soul

If a person was reborn, but with a completely different personality, did that make them the same? Kagome pondered that question as she pushed her pink bicycle over the roots and ruts of the Feudal Era. Trees surrounded her as she made her way through Inuyasha's woods, for once simply enjoying this volatile and dangerous time in Japan's history.

She knew that her soul was the same as Kikyo's, that they were sharing it, each holding a piece to keep them alive. Inuyasha and Naraku both had compared her to the long-dead miko at one time or another.

Her back wheel caught and the young woman looked back to find a vine had entwined itself amongst the spokes. Sighing, she pushed out the kick stand, pulled off her heavy yellow backpack and knelt down, surveying the damage.

As Kagome pulled the obnoxious foliage her mind again found itself following the same vein. And why shouldn't she wonder about these things? It was her soul after all, even though it had once belonged to Kikyo. But that didn't mean she wanted to be compared to her the rest of her life, or at least the rest of her life in the Feudal Era, however long that would be.

Who knew how the final battle would end. Would she be sent home after making a wish on the Shikon-no-Tama? Or would there be a wish needed at all? Could she protect such a sacred and powerful item for the remainder of or her lifetime?

These questions and more crowded her mind as she absently picked at the green growth covering her bicycle wheel.

So absorbed was the young woman that she completely missed the entrance of another being into the small glade she had stopped in. If it weren't for an unexpected gust of wind she never would have, either.

The rustle of clothing came from behind her and she quickly swung around on her heels, ready for danger. However, what lay just a few yards away was far more than dangerous, he was deadly.

Long silver hair, white clothing and two swords at his side, Sesshoumaru stood silent and still. She shuddered. He was staring at her! Not good!

Certainly Inuyasha and he were not on good terms, and never would be if you asked her opinion, but did that mean he had to take out their family feud on her?! No way!

But...he hadn't done anything...yet. Maybe that was a good sign? Mentally she shrugged even as her body remained frozen, like a frightened rabbit. Who knew what went through the minds of full-blooded youkai?

The silence between them was oppressive and Kagome found herself trying twice to speak before she could actually create a coherent question. "Um...is there something you needed?"

She could have kicked herself. Out of all the questions to ask she had to voice that one?! Talk about the perfect choice of words to antagonize him right into acting out his plans!

He didn't act out his plans though, whatever those were. Rather, he stood exactly as he had, staring at a spot just beyond her. Kagome turned slightly, wondering what he was gazing at.

Oh. Right. Bicycles weren't too common in a time two-hundred and fifty years before its invention.

So she sat there, wondering what to say to a potentially deadly foe, while he stood mere yards away, never blinking, his gaze riveted on what must be to him a strange object indeed.

Apparently his curiosity didn't go beyond examination, for he abruptly broke eye contact with the bike and turned to his right, heading deeper into the woods and away without a single word.

Quickly, without even thinking about the consequences of such an action, Kagome sprang to her feet, one hand out stretched as if to grab him. "Wait!"

Amazingly he did. He didn't face her, but he stopped in his retreat, taking a stance just where the trees rose.

Now that she'd gotten his attention the young teen had no idea why she'd called out to him. Maybe...a fragment of her former thoughts rose. Maybe she wanted to ask him something, a question that could only be answered by one who didn't know her from a personal position. Mentally cheering herself on, she stood her ground against the urge to run away from such a dangerous creature.

Her voice was firm. "Who do you see when you look at me?"

For some reason this question had been bouncing around her mind for the last few days, ever since their last run in with Kikyo. It had been the usual; Inuyasha had pled with her to join them, she had refused, tossing a cold retort and generally causing pain and suffering.

But what had really stuck with her had been the hanyou's eyes when he'd looked at her after the dead one had left. They had been so completely full of longing, as if he wished it was the other woman in her place.

She knew that he would never wish her harm, that he always did his best to protect her, but sometimes, when he got that look in his eyes, Kagome felt as if she was the wrong person standing before him.

Though now that she actually thought about it, there was no reason whatsoever for Sesshoumaru to know of her relationship with the dead priestess. Still, she just wanted to reaffirm her own self, to have someone acknowledge her for who she was.

Not that she was expecting much of an answer out of the taciturn creature before her, but anything would have been nice right now.

All of that flew out the window when he finally did look at her over his shoulder, staring at her intently with those ageless golden eyes. They were more than unnerving. The teen felt as if he was searching through her soul.

How exactly could she have asked such a silly question to him of all people?! Did she suddenly forget who was standing in front of her? Had all those hours spent contemplating her own existence finally made her lose what sanity she had?

Either way, escape would be a good idea about now, she decided.

"You know what?" she squeaked. "Nevermind. I was just...you see...."

He kept staring as she stepped backward until the bicycle was right behind her and the pedal dug into her ankle. If the young woman was frightened then, that was nothing to when he fully turned his body around.

Like a doe caught in the headlights of a car she stood stock still, awaiting whatever fate had in store for her. Running was useless with such a predator. He'd catch her in mere moments.

Rather than ending her existence, however, he spoke, slowly and clearly in that deep and cold voice of his.

"We are who we make ourselves to be. The strong do not let others tell them who they are, miko."

With that abrupt but deep speech he made his exit, disappearing into the growth with his hair swishing from side to side.

In shock, Kagome's poor brain took a few moments to process what he'd just said. Had the great Sesshoumaru actually given her...advice?! She mulled over his words for another moment as a slow smile spread across her face.

He had indeed given her the comfort she'd been looking for, though whether he meant to or not was unknown. At this time it didn't matter. Kagome understood what he had been saying, that ultimately she was the one to decide who she was, not others.

A feeling of giddy happiness washed over her in a large, slow wave and she laughed aloud. Feeling elated and reckless, she yelled after him, "My name is Kagome!"

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Deep in the woods the youkai lord heard the faint murmur of words. And if one looked closely enough, they could have seen the slight hint of a twinkle in those usually cold eyes.