Switching Sides by Vixen12089

Prologue: The End and the Beginning

Disclaimer: *Sniffle.* As much as I hate it, I don't own Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru (*Sigh.*). or any of the other characters of the show. Though I would buy it if I could, Rumiko Takahashi holds the honor of ownership. Of, course maybe she'd let me borrow Fluffy for a little while? Maybe just a couple of hours every once in awhile? Having him on a leash sounds so very fun and tempting...*Evil Grin.*

Switching Sides

Prologue

This chapter in the story of the hunters of the Shikon no Tama opens up with this scene:

Kagome stands under the Goshinboku tree, her clothes and hands soaked in blood, holding the Shikon no Tama loosely, her hands held out in front of her, tears running silently down her face. Inuyasha leans against the tree, his arms crossed on his chest, annoyed that on this night, the night that the Jewel would finally be gone, he is stuck as a human. Everyone would have liked to have waited in order to use the jewel, but it just wasn't possible. Shippo is curled up beside Kirara and Kohaku on the ground. They seem to be asleep, but the tears running down Kagome's face as she holds the jewels in her hands as well as Sango shaking and sobbing in Miroku's arms leads tyou to the conclusion that they aren't asleep. Naraku had been defeated, but at too grave a price: Shippo, Kirara, Kohaku, Kikyo, even Kouga, Rin, and Totosai; they had all been killed in the final battle.

Tensaiga and Tetsusaiga had both been shattered to pieces. Naraku had turned Sesshoumaru to his will with the use of a Shikon shard and a few remanents of Naraku's power that had been left behind the first time Sesshoumaru had been involved with him. Sesshoumaru eventually broke free from Naraku's control, but it was too late. The damage had already been done: Kagome had been seriously hurt, Rin had been killed, and both great swords lay in pieces. Kouga fought Kagura after she killed Ginta and Hakaku, and, in his rage at his lost kinsmen, turned to bloodlust. Inuyasha was forced to kill him before he could harm anyone. Ayame had taken his body back to the wolf tribes, tears running down her face as the gang watched her leave. Kagome holds the jewel tentatively in her hands, almost as if she is afraid of it. Slowly, a wish forms in her mind.

Everyone had realized that this would have to happen; for good or evil, Kagome was the only one who could take the jewel from this world because she had been the vessel that brought it back into the world. As the rest of the group, the ones that still live, watch and wait, Kagome makes her wish. Kagome whispers a couple of small words, these words: "I wish..." The rest of the wish falls into silence as all hell breaks loose A bright light enfolds the entire gang in an otherworldly glow, originating from Kagome, or rather, more importantly, from Kagome and the jewel. After a few moments that seem like an eternity, the blinding light suddenly disappears and the group finds Kagome passed out on the ground. Suddenly heartbeats are heard from the and the ones they previously believed to be dead, stirring once again, their hearts beginning to beat once again in unisons with Kagome's, slow at first, but then faster, keeping pace with hers at all times, beating in unison. Bum bump, bum bump.

Sango watches hopefully as Kohaku is the first to wake. He opens his eyes and Sango pounces on him in her happiness when he asks one question: "Ane?" She hugs him exuberantly and as Miroku watches, he can't help wishing that it was him Sango was hugging and acting so out of character with. All of a sudden though, he is the one Sango is hugging. She is hugging everyone and everyone is hugging her and everyone else, even the currently human Inuyasha. Kagome is the next to wake and seems very out of character as she opens her eyes, sits up, and just blinks. Then she plops back down into her original position, curls up into a little ball, and goes to sleep as Inuyasha and Shippo, who has also finally woken up, hover over her.

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"Sesshoumaru-sama?" Sesshoumaru turns in surprise to hear his ward's voice calling his name. He turns slightly to look at were he had left her body, only to realize that she was sitting up and seemed fine. "Sesshoumaru-sama, why do you have water coming from your eyes? Did you hurt, m'ord? Is that why? If it is, then this Rin will help you." She stands up from her position and slowly walks the few feet to Sesshoumaru. She tilts her head slightly to the side, a silent question on whether or not he is hurt and for the reason that "water is running from his eyes.""It is nothing Rin. Enough of your concern. This Sesshoumaru is unhurt. We will be leaving now." She smiles brightly and runs around in little circles for a few moments before answering. "Yes m'lord!"

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Kouga wakes up to feel a weight on his chest, a crying Ayame. He roughly taps her shoulder in order to get her attention and, perhaps, to comfort her. "Ayame? What happened? I feel like I just got trampled by a stampede of wild horse youkai..." He stops mid-sentence when she throws herself into his arms and he is forced to compensate for her weight. "Ayame, what the heck is going on? You're never this exuberant in your attentions, even if you can get a bit annoying at times..." Ayame, tears running down her face, this time in happiness instead of grief just shakes her head. "Kouga, you big idiot! You died and left me here alone!" She starts sobbing uncontrollably and Kouga just roughly pats her head, trying to comfort her in confusion and nervousness.

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"What happened?" Kagome sits up in her own bed, only to realize that the light is gone and that she is back in her own time. She reaches to her to her side and raises her blood soaked shirt to find that she is completely healed. She slowly gets out of bed and looks around. Nothing is different. "Mom?" She walks out of her room, downstairs, and into the living room. There is only silence as she stops at the front door for a moment to read a note addressed to her and pinned to it.

Kagome-

We went to visit your grandfather's

sister in Kyoto. She was not feeling well and

we decided that it would be a good idea to

visit her. Buyo is with us and there's

money int the usual place in case you came

home and needed something. Be home soon.

Take care sweetie. We love you.

-Mother

'Okay, so that means that I'm on my own for awhile. Well, I better head back before everyone starts to worry, if I can. I'll just take a quick shower, grab a couple of things, and then go.' She heads back up to her room, grabs a change of clothes, and then hops in the shower. She grabs a big fluffy white towel, steps out of the shower, walks up to the bathroom sink, and wipes off the mirror. She sees herself in it, and quickly passes out in shock.

(A/N: 'ello! Please read and review. I really like them and hope to see plenty. I'll even accept flames, even if I don't like them much. :Grin.: A little bribe: The more reviews I get, the faster I'll update. *I hope that helps.*)