Dancing in the Dark

Chapter 1: Infectious

Disclaimer: Yep, I totally own Inuyasha and Bleach. That's why Ulquiorra died. Because I wanted that to happen, so now I'm writing fanfiction about him. OF COURSE I DON'T OWN IT! :D

This Chapter is Revised

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."

- Dr. Seuss

Blood.

They call it the liquid of life, an ancient elixir for our bodies. Scarlet as the lunar moon, and perhaps more beautiful.

That's what Kagome had once thought, as a child with a paper cut or a scraped knee. But this blood… the blood that covered her hands, her clothes, this wasn't beautiful.

The blood of her friend was horrifying.

A sob wretched itself from her shaking chest and she desperately reached inside herself for her miko abilities. "Don't go." Her voice trembled unbidden and he stroked her best friend's hair as her other hand glowed.

"Don't leave me." Was it fear of losing her friend that she was more afraid of? Or was it fear for her friend to losing her life?

Slipping into that darkness, like an eternal dream… "Miroku is waiting. Miroku h-he needs you."

The brown eyes staring at her were glazed over, the light was gone and all she could see was her own reflection.

And the blood…

Why was it on her face?

"Sango… Sango please wake up." Her powers weren't working. They wouldn't heal her friend.

Why?

Was it because Sango was already gone?

…But she couldn't be gone! Sango was still there.

Her mind fought the obviousness in front of her and her lips curled into a trembling, painful grimace.

Another choking sob spilled from her chest.

"What am I going to tell Miroku is you're gone." Her voice broke and footsteps approached her. She didn't look up. "He's waiting for you right now. You have to come back."

"Kagome?" Shippo's voice was hoarse and rough. "M-Miroku i-isn't b-breathing."

Her eyes snapped open from their half closed position and she slowly turned to face her son. "W-What?" Her face became pale as her eyes focused on her fallen friend.

She'd thought he was unconscious.

"But if he's not here… then Sango won't have a reason to come back."

She continued to stare at his body for several minutes, not hearing her son calling out for her in concern.

Something flickered next to Miroku's body.

Kagome blinked and narrowed her eyes, had they missed a demon?

The flickering continued, she thought she saw a flash of purple, heard the tinkling of a staff.

Chain links clinking together.

She tried to focus more.

The flickering slowed, giving her more time to see what was there, a small ponytail.

Then, as if she'd broken through some unseen barrier, the flickering stopped and the image was as clear as day.

Miroku was standing over his body.

He looked the same as he always did, minus a rather large chain connecting to the corpse.

What on earth was going on?

Kagome stood shakily. "Miroku… Miroku?"

His gaze met hers numbly, "Lady Kagome… what's going on? You're glowing…"

She looked down at herself and was surprised to find that she actually was glowing.

'And then I appeared back in the well house.' Kagome pondered idily, snapping the tape onto the last box.

"You don't have to go…" Her mother's soft voice urged quietly behind her, she imagined her mother's heartbroken expression. But her mom didn't understand.

She did have to go. "I need this." She had to get away in some way.

Ever since the jewel had 'magically' transported her back to her time she'd felt trapped within the world. She no longer fit in amongst her squealing friends.

Why should she care about such meaningless things as fashion and boys when she'd seen the ghost of her brother figure?

That was another thing that got her.

She hadn't known what to think of that other Miroku at the time, but now she encountered ghosts daily. Every time she left the house she saw at least one, sitting on the street corner. A broken chain hanging from their chests.

She left flowers, talked to the ones that were more out of the public eyes, but what could she do? She didn't want to chance killing them with her miko abilities. She felt terrible about their predicament but there had to be someone in charge of helping them. They'd get help.

"I love you." Her mother sniffled and footsteps echoed throughout the room before she felt fragile arms wrap about her.

Kagome held onto her mother and leaned into her, scoffing. "You should be saving the goodbyes for tomorrow."

Instead of lightly laughing and messing with her hair as she'd hoped her mother only held her tighter, "I'm so proud of you, you've been strong… you are strong."

Kagome's eyes widened, what was that supposed to mean? "Mom?"

"I know it will sound foolish of me to say this now of all times." Mrs. Higurashi continued, "But please be safe."

"Don't be stupid." She murmured in return. "Of course I'll be safe." Kagome turned in her mother's arms to wrap her own around her neck. "I am your daughter."

It wasn't every day you learn that you have a twin brother.

In fact it's very uncommon.

But Kagome was just one of those lucky few people.

Kagome let out a sigh and ran her fingers through her hair, exasperation clear on her otherwise perturbed face. "Ichigo, Karin, and Yuzu huh?" They sounded… cute. Which wasn't how she wanted to feel about her supposed siblings.

She wanted to feel betrayed, rant and rave about it maybe, but she didn't.

…She was excited.

Her mother had moved them –her and Souta- to Karakura town while she and Grandpa stayed back to take care of the shrine. Though the reason was as much to reunite the separated children as to let Kagome have space.

And so Souta and Kagome had been whisked away to buy an apartment not far from their father's clinic.

A hand reached out and slapped her shoulder, playfully, grabbing her hand. "I'm all done sis!" Her little brother replied cheerfully.

Kagome's lips twitched and she turned to ruffle his hair fondly, giving him a mocking look. "You sure Souta? Do we need to check the list?" What kind of older sister would she be if she didn't give her baby brother a hard time?

Souta bit his lip and his brow wrinkled, he was obviously checking the list in his mind instead of what was on paper. "Yeah I'm positive about my side. But what about you, do you have your hair dryer?"

Kagome blushed, 'How did he know?' She'd realized it had been forgotten at the shine almost as soon as they'd gotten in the house, but hadn't wanted Souta to find out.

The teasing about her getting old and forgetting things was sure to start again…

Stupid smart little bumpkins.

"Fine, you caught me." Kagome huffed, jokingly raising her hands in surrender, "I'll go buy one tomorrow. It's no big deal."

Souta bit back a grin and sent her a look from under his eyelashes, "Sis… tomorrow is Monday."

She snorted, "And yesterday was Saturaday and today is Sunday." She shrugged as she dug a toothbrush out of her bag victoriously, "Your point?"

He sighed and rolled his eyes, "Does this ring a bell? New student Kagome Higurashi, please treat he"

Kagome dropped the toothbrush and grabbed his shoulders, interrupting his speech. "SOUTA! I just realized tomorrow is the first day of school!"

Souta watched, amused, as she darted around panicking about 'having to get up earlier'. After several minutes of planning on Kagome's part, Souta kindly informed her, "You can have the extra one I brought. I figured you'd forget it."

Kagome paused mid-rampage to peek at him for a second before tackling him in a hug. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

"K-Kagome… can't breath."

She giggled, releasing him, but as she did so something caught her eye.

Her eyebrow twitched and her good mood gave way to a whine, "Do I have to wear that skirt. I swear it's even shorter than the last one!" She complained and he laughed at her expense.

Kagome's new uniform consisted of a grey mini skirt and blazer, a white dress shirt, grey shoes, and a red ribbon tied in a bow…

Okay maybe it wasn't THAT bad.

The problem was, nowadays, Kagome liked to cover up with jeans or sweat pants. After a certain amount of attempted rape a girl could sleep a little easier in something that snapped shut.

Souta didn't know how lucky he was with that grey suit! Maybe they should force the boys into miniskirts and allow them to grovel at the female's feet… preferably after they've changed back.

Souta laughed nervously, as if sensing her thought, and scratched the back of his head. "…"

She raised an eyebrow and hid a smile. Souta was a little on the meek side sometimes, but she thought it was adorable.

...In a sisterly fashion.

11 years old and already in 8th grade, the class skipper! What else was she supposed to tease him about when he already had that title?

Kagome ruffled his hair, "Why do you need a hair dryer anyway? Your hair is so short!"

Souta rolled his eyes, trying to get away from her hand, "Oh shut it."

"Can someone pass the salt please?" Isshin asked, breaking the tense silence of the room. His kids had been on the defensive all day because of his poor mood. But that wasn't completely his fault, he just didn't know how to go about this…

Yuzu did as asked with a soft 'sure'.

Isshin inwardly sighed as this sort of conversation erupted around the table, it was the only noise in the otherwise silent room.

Even the mice weren't squeaking. Traitors that's what those rodents were!

"Ketchup please." Karin passed it to Ichigo without a word.

"Milk." Milk was passed.

"Meat." Passed.

Potatos." Passed.

"O-"

Isshin cleared his throat, interrupting the request. "There's something I have to tell you." 'Don't get emotional. Just breath, breath breath…'

Ichigo dropped his fork mid-bite, his eyes darting to his father's tense face. He looked constipated, Ichigo noticed with a slightly raised eyebrow, "Finally! You've been acting weird all day."

Karin rolled her eyes at him and sent their dad an impatient look, "Well?"

Isshin's eyes dropped to the table. 'Breath. In. Out. In. Out. Breath~!' "You're not alone…." All three of his children raised single eyebrows. "What I mean is… there are…" He was mentally hyperventilating. "BREATH SLOWER! COME ON! Big breath, now let it out… SLOWER. No no no! This is all wrong…'

"Yeah dad?" Yuzu was giving him such a cute look, oh his innocent little girl…

So, because he is the eccentric person that he is, he… disappeared.

Ichigo was up in a second, looking this way and that. "Hey, where'd the old man go?!"

"Seriously dad, seriously?" Karin didn't have time to deal with his antics right now.

"OH MY DEAR WIFE! How can I tell our children that they have a sister and brother? HOW? PLEASE MY LOV-"

"Hey would you stop talking to that poster… WAIT A MINUTE WHAT DID YOU SAY?" Ichigo yelled, pulling his father up from his knees by the collar.

Isshin gave him a woe-as-me puppy dog face, "You have two other siblings. Kagome and Souta."

Karin's eyes got big and Yuzu's jaw dropped.

Ichigo's brow ticked and he clutched his father's shirt tighter, "You've been messing around with the girls down at the uni-bathhouse haven't you?! You dirty old man." Isshin darted away, somehow having wiggled out of Ichigo's grasp as his son tried to hit him. "Come back here!"

Karin watched in a bored fashion as Yuzu tried in vain to get between them and stop the fighting.

"Karin why don't you help?!" Yuzu complained, turning to pout at her.

Her sister merely shrugged in response, "I don't really feel like it." She huffed, "Besides dad said siblings not half-siblings so I'm guessing they didn't pop out of nowhere."

Ichigo paused in his attempt to kill his father, still holding him off the ground by the front of his shirt, "Is that true?"

Isshin huffed, "So what if it is?" He pouted, having wanted to 'play' with his son a little more. "Yeah, Kagome's your twin and Souta is just a little older than the girls."

Ichigo dropped him to the floor unceremoniously, "So where are they?" He was trying not to get angry again.

Trying.

Isshin shrugged, "How should I know?" It was quiet for a moment as they all cast him strange looks and Ichigo cracked his knuckles threateningly. He laughed nervously, "I'm just kidding! They moved in a few houses down! Isn't that great?! And they'll even go to school with you!"

Karin made a face, "Where've they been until now?"

Isshin stared out the window, some of his earlier excitement wearing away, "They've been living with Kun Loon, your mother's sister, ever since she passed. In Tokyo…"

"Why haven't they been with us?" Ichigo wondered, he didn't always get along with his sisters, but he loved them. He would have liked to get to know his apparent OTHER siblings. Now, they were strangers.

Isshin let out an uncharacteristic sigh, "I'm only one man, and I'm not that responsible. I couldn't take care of five kids and your aunt isn't able to have any of her own, so we just kinda… let them stay there for a while." He held one hand behind his back, his fingers crossed.

What they didn't know wouldn't hurt them… too much.

"YOU IDIOT! WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?"

Isshin huffed, jumping him, "Oh come on! Don't talk like that to your dear old dad! It's not like they don't know she's their aunt."

Ichigo punched him in the jaw, blocking the failed attack as per normal. "You better hope they do old man."

Kagome threw on a cute grey blazer over her white tank top and black jeans and skipped out of the house in white tennis shoes. 'Better go check on Souta.'

He'd found a group of kids playing soccer when they'd first arrived (two days ago) and made friends with most of them easily. The coach let him do warm ups and play a game with them.

Since then, he'd been going to all their practices and would be officially joining the team in the morning on his first day.

She enjoyed watching him play.

Kagome closed her eyes, hands entering her pockets and ignored all the screams around her.

She didn't want to get in the middle of whatever this fight was.

The crying continued and her fist clenched.

But this was heartless murder.

How could she ignore it?

She tried to force the sound out and instead focus on her steps. One step. Two step. Three step.

Now there was no sound, the initial observers –the screamers as she referred to them- were dead.

Why had she become so insensitive that death no longer had the same effect on her? She hated it, she hated the one doing it… but there was a time when she would have charged in headfirst when she'd witnessed the first woman drop.

Now, she ignored it. She didn't want to get into someone else's battle.

She just wanted to be normal.

Besides, what did it make any difference for her to kill one bad person? There are always the good and the evil. The strong and the weak. When you killed one evil, another two came in its place like a lernaean hydra.

She couldn't kill them without having to kill more.

Her eyes opened slightly as she felt two strong auras approaching, those were the two that had done this.

…She should kill them.

Her eye opened a little more, 'But I won't.'

"Ulquiorra, what about this one?"

She paused briefly in her step, her eyes darting to the large monster- perhaps person, that stood near a crater not far from her.

"You should be able to tell just by looking… she's trash." Another voice, deep and yet light, replied back impassively.

Kagome's eyes flashed, but she continued to walk past them never-the-less, acting as though she was a normal human that couldn't see them.

The smaller one was right. She had become trash.

'Perhaps lower than trash.' She considered idly as she observed the bodies that lay scattered on the ground.

"But she hasn't screamed yet Ulquiorra." The big one seemed to find this both interesting and amusing. "She should be able to see the corpses."

'Ulquiorra' didn't reply, but she could tell he was observing her.

His gaze felt like fire.

"Sis!" Souta called from behind her.

'Great timing little bro.'

Her younger brother grabbed onto her arm, laughing, "You walk so fast Kagome!"

She turned around and ruffled his hair teasingly, "I was trying to get away from you soccer dorks." She jabbed.

Souta laughed again, his eyes holding a fondness to them that Kagome rarely saw directed her way, "Yeah right, you should have stuck around, maybe one of the older players would have been your type." He mocked, making kissy faces and shoving her slightly, though she didn't move an inch.

Kagome blushed, turning away and fiddling her fingers, "Ew! No way, boys are… weird."

She heard a loud laugh from her left, "You hear that Ulquiorra? Boys are weird! AHAHAAHAHA!"

Souta froze, turning to look at him. He still remained oblivious to all the dead people on the ground though.

Kagome wondered if her innocence had once made her that unaware.

A big smile lit his face, "Hey you! …That is some awesome gear! Where did you get those outfits?"

The bigger one curled his lips into a snarl, "What are you going on about kid?" He faced his companion, "Ulquiorra is he one of them?"

Smooth Voice AKA 'Ulquiorra' remained unaffected by his partner's loud voice. "Trash."

Beside her Souta began to shake with fear. Kagome inwardly cursed, Souta had priest powers –no matter how untrained they were as of yet- . And while they were tiny, he could sense the power coming off the two men in waves.

"Kagome… Kagome do you know who these people are?"

She took a look in the direction she figured it would be natural to if a normal person heard her brother going on about two strange people. Now she could see the other one as well.

He had black hair and vibrant green eyes, and wore an outfit of white and black like his partner.

A strange feeling of understanding coursed through her and pulled her soul toward him.

Her frown deepened, as she made sure not to make direct eye contact and keep moving her head as if searching, 'Odd.'

She turned back to her brother, "I don't know who you're talking about Souta? Which one?"

There were many people lying on the ground, a normal person would assume it was one of these people Souta was talking about.

'Dead. They're lying dead on the ground. This is your fault.' She should have done something.

Yet still she maintained a selfish hope that Souta didn't start looking and notice the carnage.

"The big one… and the one standing next to him. Can't you see them Sis?"

She inwardly winced, Souta would understand… right? "Come on kid, let's go." Shaking her head she added under her breath, "Imaginary friends, thought we'd gotten past that stage."

Souta's mouth twisted into an angry frown and his face burned, but he stomped ahead instead of yelling, "Fine! I'll see you at home Kagome."

Kagome nodded silently, her eyes narrowed toward the ground and she resisted calling out to him. There was no reason to give the murderers a free show.

She caught sight of a person laying near her and out of pure impulse she reached out and checked his pulse.

As she thought, there was nothing. 'Your fault.' She mentally berated.

"You should be more careful." She kept her voice quiet and turned her head to nod at the men she was pretty sure were crazy. "If you aren't, you could end up in the news. I'm sure whatever gang you're in doesn't want or need the attention."

She faced away to continue on her house when a desperate gasping reached her ears.

There was a girl just in front of her… who survived? 'This one managed to survive… she doesn't want to die.'

A sigh escaped her, she couldn't just leave the girl like that! And now that she was going to interfere anyway… all those people died for nothing. Frustration made her brow wrinkle and she kneeled, her hands glowing purple as her powers searched for a wound to heal. Kagome's eyes briefly widened, 'They were trying to take her soul… all these people…' Their souls were taken.

That was worse than death.

'I can't do anything for her soul. She just needs rest.' But the dark haired girl was still awake and watching her fearfully. Kagome stopped focusing on letting her power heal the other girl and used it to make her drowsy instead.

Almost immediately, her breathing evened out as she fell unconscious.

Rising smoothly to her feet, she turned in the direction her brother had disappeared in.

The bigger of the two snorted for behind her, "OI! What is that healing ability you have?" She continued walking and his eyebrow ticked, "We're going to kill that girl. You're just going to leave her here to die? When you were talking before I thought maybe you were going to be some kind of enemy, but you're nothing more than a spineless coward!"

'Yes. That's exactly what I am.' She laughed darkly, her heard snapping back so she could stare him in the eye. "I am no longer a hero." He looked surprised by her answer so she continued, "I have no reason to get involved with another fight that I'll only get in the way during. I'm not stupid."

Her glance shifted to the smaller one, as he looked more like the authority figure of the two. Either he was sent to supervise the big guy or the big guy didn't want to be left behind. "I won't get in your way, I have no wish to get involved with your business. But if you target anyone I care for… I'll destroy you and everyone you fight with."

She inwardly pouted at her mother. Even though she didn't want to be here and didn't want to fight anyone, she'd no doubt be brought into it somehow.

Perhaps she shouldn't have said she wanted to move.

She waited a moment as the threat seemed to sink in, though big man looked more amused than anything, "Good day gentlemen."

"You're a strange human… aren't you?" Ulquiorra murmured, watching her unprotected back.

Yammy's eyes widened, he couldn't believe he was being threatened by someone four feet tall! And yet it was so… entertaining. His lips twitched.

Ulquiorra's head tilted ever so slightly, 'Her speech didn't sound all that sincere. She will probably enter the fight against us very soon, and she's unsure whether or not she will have enough power to fight us at all.'

"Good day gentlemen."

So that was the girl's goodbye. Just a moment ago she was warning them and now a polite remark… she was interesting. 'Her ability is very interesting.' A flash of the purple glow returned to his mind. 'Lord Aizen will want to be informed of it.'

"You're a strange human… aren't you?" He murmured, 'Turning her back to a possible enemy so deliberately.'

Yammy, rash as always, charged toward her, "Who says you're going to life that long?!"

Kagome paused mid-step and spun around to kick him… only to find, some boy with a black and maroon arm in her way.

Too late to stop her kick, her foot knocked into his side and he went crashing into the nearby forest.

"CHAD!"

The name was screamed by an orange-haired girl, who was extremely lucky to have avoided 'Chad's' flying form. She turned to her accusingly, "How could you?!"

Kagome was frozen for a moment, "…Ops. Sorry about that." The widening of grey eyes told her, the other girl hadn't expected an apology.

She watched the trees and soon enough the boy came out. He ran toward her and Kagome blinked, "He isn't going to attack me is he?" She mumbled to the girl.

In turn, large grey eyes widened and she looked between the charging Chad and petite girl. "CHAD! SHE ISN'T THE ENEMY!"

He continued running, but angled himself so that when he skidded to as stop, he was standing in front of them both protectively. "You need to leave." He muttered, his voice was slow and deep, the sound surprising Kagome and she shivered.

Yammy hmmed, "Ulquiorra. How about those two? Are they trash?" He'd stopped his charge when she'd kicked Chad, thinking it was amusing that she taken out her ally.

Ulquiorra closed his eyes and replied coldly, "Yes they are trash."

Recovering from her initial shock, she stared between the two enemies for a moment and huffed, once again turning her back. "Whatever, it's like I said. I won't get involved." And yet something told her that even though she really didn't want to, she was going to be taking part in the fight.

There were some things that she wished she wasn't right about… and that was one of them.

She was grabbed by the pretty girl and shaken lightly when Chad was easily taken out of the fight. "Y-You kicked Chad all the way over there… And you didn't even try! You're strong! So- SO PLEASE HELP US! PLEASE SAVE CHAD!"

Kagome was finding herself between a rock and a hard place and she didn't like it one bit, moreover she hated the way that the two were just waiting for them to attack. As if it didn't matter if she had the advantage, they'd still win.

She detested being underestimated.

But…

"I'm not going to get involved." She replied back simply, her very nature screaming to get out and pummel the enemies.

Staring into those big grey eyes filled with tears, tears shed for her friend, Kagome felt vulnerable. It was like the girl had cut through the shell she'd built around her heart and her eyes were boring into her very soul.

'Stop it, please don't look at me like that.' She thought, wishing she could yell it, but she'd gone completely stiff.

She couldn't move anymore.

What had the girl done?

Instead of answering the silent question, grey eyes lost focus of her face and she ran toward her friend. "Chad! Chad!" She leaned over him and shook him, "Please Chad, wake up!" 'I'm positive he knew. He knew these guys were so strong that neither of us could stand against them by ourselves. He knew that and that's why he wanted me to take that girl and stay away. So he could protect us' A scoff reached her ears.

And she looked up to see the giant was standing near her now.

"Since you're trash." Yammy drawled, "I'm gonna kill you."

Orihime trembled, but remained where she was as he held out his pointer finger.

It got closer and closer and something… something told her that would kill them both.

"Santen Keshun." A large triangle shaped shield protected them, but then cracked into pieces.

His attack, seemingly weak as it was, was too strong for her barrier

She stood as the pieces disappeared.

Yammy stopped and stared at her for a long moment, "This girl… what is she?"

His partner didn't bother answering him.

"Soten Kisshun." This time, an oval shaped shield appeared above Chad and his arm, which had been ripped apart, began to heal.

'Amazing. That isn't like any healing technique I ever read about in my studies.' Kagome thought, wondering what it could be. When she'd been trained by Kaede, she'd learned and memorized every different type of healing that was known to mikos. How had this one escaped her? An idea snapped into her head, 'What if it isn't a healing technique at all…' She watched as the sever closed itself, 'It appears to be closing back on how it was torn. Could it be possible that she is able to turn back time on a single object to heal it?'

"How are you able to heal that guy? In fact, how can he even still be alive? Pretty stubborn if you ask me." Yammy spit out.

Meanwhile, Ulquiorra was intrigued, 'She has healing powers.' He remained impassive as he tried to single out what kind, 'No that's not it… this is not a healing technique. She's either reversing time or space. Whatever it is, it is not the power to heal. But it is something I have never seen before.' "You're… another strange human."

Kagome frowned as she watched different emotions running through the other girl's eyes. Fear, hope, determination, more fear. What was she trying to accomplish as she stood there?

Then it clicked.

All the times she had stalled for time trying to save someone or fight someone she knew she couldn't handle.

…She'd been stalling for Inuyasha.

'She's waiting for her own Inuyasha to come save her.' In the girl's eyes Kagome saw herself, faithfully believing Inuyasha would always be there, but not wanting to be weak. Not wanting to have to rely on him.

Was that what had frozen her when they had locked eyes? Was it the mirror image of what she had once stood for that kept her here?

Orihime stuck her arms out, determined to defend herself.

Yammy was waiting patiently, which alarmed Kagome greatly. 'He's trying to decide if they should kill her or bring her back for their boss.'

"KOTEN ZANSHUN!" The girl called and a yellow power gathered around something near her hands, "I REJECT!"

It flew toward Yammy, but it was much too slow. He easily caught it, and as he did it was destroyed.

Now Yammy was annoyed, "What do you want to do with her Ulquiorra? Maybe we should take her back to Aizen to show her this weird healing power she possesses."

Orihime stared up at his towering height, "Wait, Aizen?"

'Who's Aizen? Their leader?' Kagome wanted to rub her temples.

"No that won't be necessary. Just kill her, Yammy." Ulquiorra replied back indifferently and Yammy gave a cruel smile.

"Gotcha."

Orihime was frozen with fear and she shook faintly. 'I-I can't do anything…'

The punch that would have destroyed her was blocked by a purple barrier.

Yammy frowned, eyeing the barrier with displeasure. "What the hell is this?"

"I wouldn't do that again if I were you." Kagome chided back, stepping forward and meeting his surprised gaze evenly. "Next time… it will purify you."

Yammy looked into her eyes and saw a certain deadliness that reminded him of Aizen. That confused him.

She stepped toward and in just a few quick steps, she'd closed the distance between them. The punch that followed after sent him back a couple feet.

He glared at her, seething as Ulquiorra made no move from beside him. It hurt his pride to be pushed back that much by a little girl.

Kagome kept her eyes on him impassively as she called, "Hey girl. When is your boyfriend getting here?"

Orihime blushed from inside the shield, "B-boyfriend?"

A smirk came to her face and she turned to give Orihime a sheepish look, "Yeah. You know, the one that is going to save us? I'm afraid it won't take them long to kill me at all." She giggled, which Orihime found strange considering she'd just admitted that they were going to defeat her. "So I'm not the best protector!"

"Ulquiorra." Yammy drawled, "What do you want to do with her?"

Ulquiorra found himself unsure of how to answer that. 'Her powers are something I've seen before and yet I can't pinpoint where…'

But for some reason he didn't want her dead.

He took a step toward her and Kagome fought the urge to flinch when he was suddenly only feet away. "Little girl." His voice was soft, but cold. "You promised you would not get involved, back down now and we will not destroy you."

She cast him a quick smile and he was unnerved to notice how deep a shade her blue eyes were, "Sorry, but I'm a sucker for girls like her. As much as it sounds nice to keep living on this plane, I don't really have a reason to be here anymore. Life means nothing to me."

Yammy snarled and took a step toward them, "Should we take her to Aizen? Let him explore those strange powers?"

Staring deep into Kagome's eyes, Ulquiorra came the conclusion that he didn't like them. They sparkled with mischief and distrust… they did something to him. "No. Kill them both."

Kagome grinned wickedly at him, "A little violent aren't we?" Before he could answer, she jumped backward into her barrier.

Yammy slammed into it not ten seconds later and dropped to the ground, his body sizzling as he spasmed.

Kagome's grin got wider and a feral nature she hadn't known she possessed gave her sick satisfaction. "I already told you, you shouldn't touch it. You should have listened to me."

Yammy got up with a growl and charged the barrier again, "YOU DON'T HAVE THE POWER TO KEEP ME OUT WOMAN!"

His body crashed into the barricade and this time didn't get knocked off, even as smoke engulfed his form he pushed against it.

Kagome gasped, feeling as though her soul was being crushed. She stumbled backward grasping her chest and unknowingly –to both her and Yammy- left the barrier.

This wasn't something that Ulquiorra missed though, for he was observing the interaction and making plans.

From what he could tell, the barrier's condition was affecting her own condition. 'Perhaps it's like breaking an arm.' He judged, 'It affects one both physically and mentally.'

He took this into account as he casually rammed his fist into the barrier.

His eyes slightly widened in shock and he had to stifle a cry.

Pain. This stabbing, searing pain that coursed through him.

He recognized it.

Before he hadn't been sure what was doing damage to Yammy, but he felt now her spiritual energy was pure. Despite her claims of 'not wanting to get into it' or 'life is meaningless' she contained an unrivaled purity.

'A miko.'

Her barrier cracked where he had struck it –of course, his ego supplied- and web like fissures spread… until it simply disappeared in a flurry of purple.

Looking past it, he saw Kagome, standing where she had stumbled and staring at them with large eyes. Yammy's eyes followed his to watch as she look a shaky step forward, "Damn…" A small smile appeared and she took another step forward. "…You really…" Another step, this time blood appeared at the corner of her mouth. "…Did a number on me."

With what she wanted said, spoken, her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she collapsed.

"…Miss…?" Orihime whispered, her eyes searching for any immediate signs that the girl who had been protecting her and Chad was alive.

"Orihime!"

She heard her name shouted and suddenly Ichigo was there, protecting her.

"Orihime get out of here!"

Tears gathered once more in her eyes, "I-I've gotta help that girl!" She ran to where Kagome was as Yammy and Ichigo began their fight.

Flipping her own onto her back she whispered, "Soten Kisshun."

A gold oval appeared and it didn't take long before blood stopped coming out of the other girl's mouth.

Orihime let out a small sigh of relief. "Ichigo. Thank you." 'Thank you for protecting me. Even though I wish I was strong enough that you didn't have to.'

"D-Did your Inuyasha come then?" Kagome's voice croaked from beside her and Orihime found herself staring into OPEN sapphire eyes.

Orihime was confused by the term –who was Inuyasha?- but she nodded lightly, "Ichigo is here."

Kagome let out a hum, "Ichigo huh?"

Ichigo as in… Ichigo Kurosaki?

Her BROTHER Ichigo Kurosaki?

Kagome's eyes closed as she pushed herself painfully off the ground, ignoring Orihime's protests. 'If they're enemies, then I'll have no choice but to get involved with their war.'

It was official. Kagome had the worst luck of all time.

The. Worst.

"See you later then." She muttered with a small wave and she limped out of the clearing.

If she really did have to get involved… it would be a strange adventure. That was for sure.

i luv niki4444

Heyllo!

This is an idea I've had for quite a few months but never got around to writing so I really hope you like it! There aren't nearly enough Kagome/Ulquiorra pairings!

YES! I'M FINALLY DONE REVISING THIS FIRST CHAPTER! I'M SO HAPPY WITH IT'S NEW LENGTH TOO! :'D