Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho. Both belong to their respective owners. I make no profit from my writing.

A/N: On swords and such. When Viz started to translate the series, they mistranslated Tessaiga, into Tetsusaiga. (For love of the chisai "tsu" XD) Since it was already late in the translating process, they decided not to change it to its proper pronunciation. However, between you and me, I like Tetsusaiga better, so I will use it for the duration of my writing-ness.

I'll try to get some of my other stories updated as well, but this one was nagging at me to be posted, so who am I to deny the muses? XD

Anyway, onward folks!

Searching for Shelter

Chapter 1: Shelter from Death

"Inuyasha, look out!" Kagome screamed, watching as the slightly clumsy inu-hanyou jumped to avoid a tentacle the size of a tree trunk from impaling into his body.

He made no reply, but instead, hoisted his efforts into releasing a wind scar attack on the vile hanyou, disintegrating some of the deadly appendages that were aimed for himself and his comrades.

She would have released a sigh of relief, but only had time to release a purification arrow, thus rendering another tentacle useless as she protected Shippou and herself. Quickly she darted her eyes to her friends, Sango and Miroku. Both were holding their own with quick sword attacks and ofudas that helped take down more of the evil appendages of the dark hanyou.

For a moment, she felt a joy in her heart. It appeared that they were winning, they were winning against Naraku! However, that joy was short lived, as an eerie silence crept onto the battlefield. Someone new had come to play, and the hatred in her heart had led her to her former love; she wanted nothing more than to take him to hell with her.

As soon as Naraku saw the undead miko step onto the battlefield, his evil laugh could be heard by each member of the inu-tachi. It should have been warning enough, but it was not, as he launched an attack at Kikyou. Six razor sharp and deadly tentacles sliced through the air to pierce through the clay and ash body of the undead miko, drawing what little blood there was to her composition, and sending her crashing down to the ground. As she did, the many souls that floated around her disbursed into the noon sky, taking with them the source of her "life".

The anguished cry of Inuyasha filled the air as he raced to her side, cradling her pale, cold form to his own warm one. "Kikyou, Kikyou…speak to me…please…" he cried out, completely focused on her lifeless form, and not on the battle at hand.

Kagome stood completely still, taking in the sight with unseeing eyes. He would never see her for who she truly was, and that shattered what little bit of hope she had left for a future with him. Time after time, no matter what happened or what she had seen between the two, she had held hope that things could be different between them, and that they could be together, however, this was something that she couldn't ignore, and couldn't put anymore false hope in.

Without thinking, she turned to Naraku, her eyes ablaze with anger, and sorrow. He had hurt her friend for the last time. "Naraku, you'll pay!" she screamed, notching her arrow and letting it fly. As before, it destroyed some of the tentacles that were reforming, but not all of them. His evil laughter resonated throughout the air, making an involuntary shudder go through each of their small group.

"My dear miko…you're still just a copy of the original…you will never be able to defeat me!" his dark voice replied, as he struck out with a vengeance against each of them, knocking over Miroku and Sango as they stood back to back defending one another. Shippou could be felt clinging to the back of Kagome's hair, and she shot off another arrow, hitting her target, but not destroying him.

Inuyasha was lost in a world of grief. He was pinned to the Goshinboku when Kikyou died the first time, this time however, he wasn't asleep, and wasn't protected from the emotion that overtook him. In the background, he could hear the battle rage on, but at this point, he didn't care anymore. "Let me die…" he reasoned, "…I no longer have a reason to live."

Kagome's scream reached his ears, but only just in time for him to look up. He wished now, that he hadn't.

Kagome saw Naraku's head turn to lock on Inuyasha and the clay form of Kikyou. She saw the evil glint darken in his eye. Then, she watched as he launched a massive attack at the hanyou that held her heart. That was all the prompting she needed as she raced forward. Everything felt as if it were going in slow motion. Her heart beat slowly in her ear, her bow was clenched tightly in her hand. Her hair was suddenly much lighter as Shippou let go, stopping to send his fox fire at a demon that got in her way. Her shoes hit the soft, spongy ground as she ran; racing against time itself as she selflessly threw herself in front of the attack, she never thought for a second to save herself; the only thought that resonated in the miko's mind, was to protect the one she loved.

Sango and Miroku watched with fear filled eyes as their sister ran in front of a brutal attack meant for the hanyou, screamed her name when she didn't stop, and cried, when they saw what the dark hanyou did to their little sister.

Inuyasha saw Kagome coming closer to him, but only a flash of her face remained engrained in his memory. The worry, and fear in her face would haunt him for the rest of his days. Her scream of agony would forever fill his dreams. He watched as sharp, pointed tentacles from the vile hanyou pierced her skin ruthlessly, impaling the young miko fully upon its deadly appendages. Her scream echoed in the clearing, pure agony and anguish in its depths as she looked to Inuyasha with a whispered, "I love you…"

Kagome was in pure hell as she felt the sting of Naraku's poisoned appendages slicing through her body, destroying vital organs and quickly bringing her on the brink of death. Blood flowed thickly from her wounds, promising that her death would be quick, if nothing else. Her eyes locked on Naraku's and she smirked, the last thing she could think of doing as her powers flared to life, the proximity of the part of her missing soul coming back to release a powerful wash of miko energy out towards the dark hanyou.

Nothing could save him as he was slowly disintegrated from the outside in, as the wash of energy enveloped him, and slowly destroyed him, and purified the jewel fragments that were in his body.

Kagome saw him slowly die, and drew in one of her final breaths, coughing up blood as she looked to the brilliant blue sky. She heard simultaneous shouts of her name, but she couldn't answer, as she closed her eyes, succumbing to the darkness that was death.

"It wasn't supposed to happen like this!" Inuyasha screamed into the air, ignoring the simultaneous looks of sorrow and pity that Sango and Miroku shot his way. Shippou clung to the young miko's matted raven hair, tear streaks down his face. He had lost another mother, and it was slowly breaking him.

The young slayer reached down and drew the kitsune child close, offering him her comfort, and trying to console herself as well. The Shikon lay complete where Naraku used to stand, glittering innocently in the spring sun.

Miroku slowly drew his beads away from the cursed wind tunnel, and couldn't help but feel relieved. The curse was broken, and he wouldn't have to fear for his life anymore; at least, not from the curse. He placed a gentle hand on Sango's back, bringing her close to hold her. The slayer went willingly into the monk's arms, her tears increasing in their intensity as she grieved for her young sister.

He held his own grief in check as he offered comfort to those he loved. His eyes went to Inuyasha, and he watched as the inu-hanyou lost control and started to sob, pulling Kagome's disfigured body to him, begging her forgiveness for failing to protect her one last time. The miko couldn't answer, not anymore, and could no longer offer her long given forgiveness.

It wasn't long, before a stoic figure came upon the clearing, brought forth because of the scent of the vile hanyou and his half brother. He did not expect to see such a sight however. Sesshoumaru saw the blood from the miko awash on the battlefield, the complete Shikon restored and laying gently on the ground, and the tears of each of the members of the inu-tachi. He feared the worst, and got it.

The miko was slain, and now there was the unspoken thought of, 'Who will protect the jewel now?' and 'What of the wish upon it?' He moved to stand beside the little jewel, clearing his throat lightly to gain their attention.

Each one turned, and Inuyasha jumped up, gently setting down Kagome's quickly cooling body. "Bastard! Have you come for a fight!? 'Cause I'm ready for one!" he screamed out, wiping his tears away, and brandishing Tetsusaiga at the taiyoukai lord.

"Stop it, Inuyasha! Just…stop…" Sango cried out, falling silent as she looked to the Taiyoukai lord. "Please…please save my sister…" she whispered out brokenly. She knew of Tenseiga's power, and she prayed that he would save Kagome from the grips of death. Kagome was the one who deserved to live the most, and she was the one who was now dead.

Raising an eyebrow at the slayer, then to the monk and kitsune, his face remained passive. As his eyes settled on his hanyou brother, they narrowed slightly. There he remained, Tetsusaiga transformed and held out to challenge him. "Move aside, half-breed." He said, his voice showing a slight bit of annoyance at the hanyou.

"Fuck if I will!" he shouted, his grief clouding his good sense as he rushed at the taiyoukai, who easily sidestepped. As a result, he went flying into a nearby tree, further upsetting his already bad temper.

Ignoring his outburst, Sesshoumaru moved closer to the impaled body of the miko, and for once in his life, his face showed an emotion other than sarcasm. A light sadness clouded his features as he looked upon her body. She was young, but she had heart, and spirit. More than most humans and demons he had known. He also knew of Rin's fondness of the female human, and slowly drew his inherited fang from it's sheathe.

Sango, Miroku, and Shippou watched with curious, but hopeful eyes. They each prayed that the powerful fang would revive their comrade, and friend, however, Inuyasha wasn't so patient, and moved to charge the lord again. "Get away from her, you bastard!" he shouted, moving to attack, however, as he did, the Tetsusaiga reverted back to it's dormant form, stunning the inu-hanyou momentarily. "What the hell…?"

He paused as Sesshoumaru lifted the thin blade forged of his fathers fang, watching it glow a gentle swirl of purple's and blue's.

Sesshoumaru wanted this to work as badly as the others. Kagome was innocence and light, much like his own Rin, and to have her taken from the world by the likes of Naraku was unsettling to say the least. Had he known that the inu-tachi were so close to the final battle, and that they were so close to Naraku, he would have taken the time to come aid them, if only in hopes to take his own revenge on the evil bastard.

As he sliced the blade down, something unexpected happened, starting with the nearly complete Shikon laying just feet away from Kagome's body. The soul that had just been completed with the re-death of Kikyou slowly emerged from the center of her mutilated chest, doing the complete opposite of what the fang had previously done for his ward, Rin.

Eyes wide, he stepped back, watching as her soul moved to surround the Shikon sphere, bringing it back to hover above Kagome's still form. Without warning, three unnaturally bright pink beams shot into her soul from different directions: East, South, and finally from her own neck, as the jewel fragments on her person were gathered. Shards from the wolf prince, the demon slayer child, and those that had managed to escape Naraku's grasp were brought together to complete the jewel that had been the downfall of so many demons and humans before it.

After a few silent moments, the jewel and Kagome's soul took on the ethereal form of a familiar figure, and Miroku and Sango instantly went to one knee. Sesshoumaru bowed to no one, but Inuyasha remained stunned, as did Shippou.

"Midoriko sama…" Miroku voiced quietly, still unsure of what in the hell was going on. Why wasn't Kagome healed? What had happened?

"Humble monk, demon slayer, kit, fire neko, inu-hanyou, and taiyoukai…", she addressed each of them in turn, her eyes lingering on Sesshoumaru the longest, before she looked over the group again. "…I apologize beforehand, this, I am afraid, is not a happy visit."

Sango quickly interrupted the ancient miko. "What is going to happen to Kagome? Why did she have to die, Midoriko?!" she cried out, her anguish overtaking her normal sense of patience.

Pity filled the miko's eyes before she shook her head. "Destiny is sometimes cruel, young slayer." She replied quietly, before turning to Sesshoumaru. "I have words for you, from my sister. For all of you…" she added, looking to each of them.

Inuyasha finally had had enough. "Then spit it out already, wench!" No matter the situation, he would always be his normal, brash self.

Managing to settle for a critical look in the hanyou's direction, she shook her head before continuing. "Lord Sesshoumaru…the miko, Kagome, wished that she had more time to prepare her final words, but humbly asks you to care for the one she left behind. She apologizes for his lack in training, but still cares and trusts in you enough to care for her kitsune kit." She said softly, bowing gently to the stoic lord.

His eyes moved to lock on Shippou's, and he nodded softly. It was a simple task. If that was all that she asked of him, it was the least he could do, in his opinion, for taking down the vile hanyou, Naraku.

The miko's slightly see-through head tilted to lock on Sango's. "She wishes for your happiness, Slayer, and has managed a gift, one I am sure you will never be able to repay." She sounded slightly stiff at this point. Really, she couldn't understand the miko Kagome. Her heart was entirely too large for her body, and she had managed to even defeat Naraku. How she did it, the miko would never know, but if anything, she supposed she owed Kagome a bit of gratification.

Sango's eyes were curious and wide. What had Kagome left her? "Your sibling, slayer, has been spared his almost certain death when the fragment of Shikon was removed from his body. He remains unconscious, but unharmed near the Slayer's village. She tells you to go now, with the monk, and be happy together."

The young girl's tears were instantly intensified at that moment. Kagome had saved her baby brother, whom she thought lost forever to her. Miroku wrapped an arm around her, hugging her softly.

"Kagome also says that you are to behave yourself, monk." The miko smirked lightly, feeling the emotions of goodwill coming from Kagome's soul that was currently surrounding the Shikon.

He nodded softly in response, a light smile coming to his saddened face. He would miss her dearly.

As they stood, Midoriko looked to Shippou, who was moving to stand near Sesshoumaru. "Kit…Kagome apologizes for leaving you behind, but she wants to tell you that she loves you." Shippou paused in his steps, his bottom lip trembling as he walked closer to the spirit miko, squashing his fear down as best he could before he replied. "Momma, I love you too."

Midoriko blinked, taken aback by the relationship that obviously existed between the demon child and miko woman. What had happened while the teenage girl walked the earth in this time? How could she even attempt to care for demons, being what she was? Shaking the thoughts away, she turned to Inuyasha, who instantly flattened his ears to the sides of his head. He was certain that she would be upset at the way he had acted over Kikyou's death, and prepared himself for some sort of reprimand for it.

"Inuyasha…she wished to comfort you over your loss somehow, but it is difficult for her now, you understand." She replied softly, looking to the saddened hanyou. She felt slightly sympathetic towards him. He had lost both his old love, and his companion in the same five minutes of time.

He nodded softly, hearing each word clearly in his mind. Typical Kagome. She always wanted to comfort him somehow. Even from the first day she met him.

"She says that she is sorry that things ended this way, but that she still wants you to know something." The miko filled the silence once more as the slightly blue light faded to allow more pink, as Kagome's influence became stronger.

"…what is it…" he replied softly, a statement more than a question as he stepped closer to the miko's form.

"…I love you…" the whisper came on the wind, and the voice was purely Kagome's as her face appeared in the slight mass of light that was the Shikon and her spirit.

A tear raced down the pale cheek of the hanyou, as he nodded. "Me too, Kagome…" he whispered, the wind barely carrying it to both Sesshoumaru and the lighted form in front of him. He really did love her, he knew it deep down in his heart now that she was gone, forever out of his reach.

Quickly however, Midoriko took back full control of their form, ending their last meeting abruptly. "Time grows short. Destiny is taking back control of this young woman's life. This may be the last time you see her in this form, but do not be discouraged. The future holds much for her. Keep an eye out, hanyou, kit, taiyoukai." She knew of what the future held, and knew that the three demons before her would live to see the young miko again.

Sango and Miroku looked slightly hopeful at the miko's words. Kagome would have a life elsewhere? Before they could question it further, the light of the child miko's soul grew, surrounding her decapitated body, before her soul, the Shikon, and her body, disappeared in a flash of brilliant, white light.

The surprised cries of each member of the inu-tachi were overwhelming for Sesshoumaru before, he too, saw that the miko's body was gone. He did not voice his thoughts, or show his surprise. The ancient miko had said as much, that she was not truly gone. How she had managed it, he did not know, but he would watch for her in the future.

Before long, the group parted their separate ways, to head for their particular destinations. Sango and Miroku left to find Kohaku, while Inuyasha remained behind to gather the ash left behind by Kikyou's clay body. He would put her to rest once again at her burial site next to Kaede's village, and prayed that this time, she would stay at peace.

Sesshoumaru took Shippou in his arm as soon as they were alone. The kit was obviously distressed after losing his mother, and he did something that he had only done for one other being, and comforted the young child. He would not let the faith that Kagome had placed in him go to waste.

Kagome had known the moment she closed her eyes that everything had changed. Death was certain as she faced her fear and protected the one she loved. However, she had not planned on seeing Midoriko, nor being able to convey her last words to those she cared for. The Shikon had surprised her yet again, by activating. Midoriko had confronted her, and all she had wanted was to tell her friends that she loved them, and wanted to make them happy. In exchange, the ancient miko shared with her brief knowledge of about what was to come for her.

She couldn't believe it. As soon as they had left for the Spirit world, she had felt it. Her chest was heaving lightly, though her spirit was away from her body. What in the world was happening? As quickly as the bright light had blinded her, it vanished, revealing a drably walled hospital of sorts. Her eyes widening, she watched as her body was taken by two very tall blue colored ogres in lab coats, and placed on a white sheeted bed. She was dead, and voiced that fact, but they seemed to ignore her.

"Hey, idiots! That's my body, what the hell are you doing?!" she shouted out, throwing out her see through hands towards the offenders, but managed to just go through the solid figures.

Turning around, she went to move after them again, but they were moving away from her disfigured body, leaving her to finally see what Naraku had done to her. She grimaced, putting a pale hand to her just as pale mouth. He had meant that for Inuyasha, but she took the blow instead. She was glad, that he had lived. Even if she had to die.

As she moved closer to the limp vessel that used to be her body, she sighed gently. Why was she here? And why was her body here? Shouldn't she have been buried in the past? Put to rest, or something? As she looked around the hospital like room, she frowned. This was supposed to be the afterlife that people looked forward to? It wasn't an appealing thought.

The last thing Koenma, lord and leader of the spirit realm, expected to see was a young girl hovering over her dead body. He had known that Higurashi, Kagome had died, however it was five-hundred and fifty years before she was even supposed to be born! Because of the time shift, her body was automatically recovered by his staff, along with a strange artifact. It was nothing but a rumor, considering the Miko's soul who originally created the jewel was missing. In fact, it was trapped, and there was no way to confirm any of the rumors or reports, considering that rumor came about another fifteen hundred or so years prior to even this young girls appearance!

Quietly, he approached the young girl, keeping his toddler appearance. "Greetings, young spirit." He said, looking to the girl with curiosity and confusion.

Kagome tilted her head towards the voice. Who was this? Was he talking to her? Could he actually see her?

"Uhm…are you talking to me, little guy?" she asked, tilting down to take a closer look at the young spirit ruler.

He sighed. At least she didn't call him a toddler. "Yes, my dear. I wonder, why are you roaming this realm? Why are you not in the land of the other departed spirits?" he asked, taking a seat near her mangled body.

She regarded him quietly a moment, before she shook her head. "I don't know…I know I'm dead, but I expected a little more than this place for my afterlife…" she smirked lightly, trying to keep her spirits up. Though she was lost forever to her friends and family, at least she knew of their happiness, now that Naraku was gone.

His chuckle got her attention, and she huffed lightly. "What's so funny?"

"This is not the realm of spirits. Though you're close. You have made your way into the Spirit Realm, this is my castle, and I am Lord Koenma, leader of the Spirit Realm."

Her eyes widened to saucer size. "WHAT?! Why am I here?" she asked, looking to him, and freaking out a little. What was going to happen when her family and friends died? Would she even get to see them again in the afterlife?

He shook his head. "I wish I knew, but for now, I would like to strike a bargain with you, young spirit. How would you like to regain your life?"

She blinked, before leaning over closer to him, inspecting him closely now. "What kind of bargain? And what would I be doing? Where would I be? I want to know specifics, mister." She folded her translucent arms over her chest, eyeing him warily.

He smirked lightly at her attitude. Yes, she is just what his team was missing. "It will be your own time era, the year 2000. I believe you were…or rather, are, 19 years of age?" A soft nod from her spirit form was his cue to continue. "Your family does not know of your death in the past, and they need not know of your death. Things can be set back to the way they were supposed to be, with you living the life you were supposed to live. The evil hanyou you defeated in the past is no more, and you will no longer have to worry for your friends' safety." He elaborated, earning a soft sigh from the raven haired girl.

"That's good, Koenma…" her face looked slightly wistful as she gave him a soft smile. "What would I have to do to get my life back? And how can I? My body is pretty banged up, as you can see…" she pointed out, looking back to her badly damaged corpse.

He shook his head, before stepping up and placing his hands over her body. Wave after wave of light yellow energy flowed from his hands into her exposed chest, covered only lightly by straps of cloth from her school uniform that had hung on in the final attack. Kagome watched, amazed, as her skin slowly regenerated and pulled back together, covering up her inner most wounds and dissolving the last of the miasmic poison left that the purification powers of Midoriko hadn't gotten rid of. Her organs rebuilt themselves, and gasped, as she saw her chest began to move more rhythmically as Koenma worked his otherworldly powers on her body.

"W-wow…" she breathed, reaching out almost cautiously to place a see-through hand on her body.

"Why thank you." The young leader smirked. She was obviously easily entertained. This was nothing for him, and now, it was her turn to keep up her end of the deal.

"This, Miss Spirit, is your ordeal." He said, holding out a small golden egg in her direction. She blinked, before reaching out and taking it, surprised to feel the solidness of the object in her hand, after not feeling much of anything except weightlessness for the past half hour or so.

"A golden chicken egg? Am I supposed to sell it or something?" she asked, looking dubious at it as she recalled a nursery book story.

"No, Miss Spirit, you are going to feed it with your spirit energy. It will grow continuously from that feeding, and depending on the nature of your energy, it will either save you, or devour you upon hatching." He replied nonchalantly.

Her eyes widened and she almost dropped the small egg. "What the hell? Why would I want to do that for?!" she screamed, not so sure about this now.

Koenma rubbed his forehead. What was it with people and this damn ordeal? They had a chance to get their life back, didn't they understand? It was a rare chance, and the thought of being devoured always turned the deal sour in most cases.

"Because you have no other choice. Otherwise, you will remain a spirit and I will escort you to the spirit realm now, if that is your wish." He replied, hopping down from his chair to walk towards the doorway.

Kagome watched him walk a few steps, before calling out, "Wait!" and then in a quieter voice, "…wait a second…Just…give me a moment to think, okay?"

He paused, and waited patiently for her to gather her thoughts, watching her with curiously blank eyes. The miko took a breath, and glanced from her body to the egg, weighing her options. She wouldn't want her mother to go on living not knowing what happened to her daughter, and she sure as hell didn't want to just give up. It wasn't her style. Firming her resolve, she nodded to the toddler sized ruler, moving out from beside her body. Oddly enough, she could feel the solid floor under her feet now. Apparently she was semi-solid in this place, and that was better than being all drifty, in her opinion.

"I'll take on this ordeal. What do I have to do in the meantime?" she asked, glancing back to her body one more time before following the Reikai ruler out of the hospital like room and through a strange maze of dimly lit passageways.

"You will accompany Botan on her cases. Some spirits must move on to the afterlife, but are bound by grief or some other powerful emotion. It is her job to convince them to move on, as well as to escort them to the Realm of Spirits. Your expertise in human emotion will be helpful to her." He explained, moving through a set of large doors, which left Kagome wide eyed and speechless.

"Mr. Matsumoto is thirty seconds late!" she heard one loud voice shout, while another shouted, "Miss Racine is three minutes early!" Another voice added to the large din of noise, "I have the Katsuragi file here!"

She paused at the large doorway, watching all of the commotion with guarded eyes and a curious mind. Was this the way the spirit realm worked? It was so….noisy!

"Come along, Miss Higurashi. We've not got all day." Koenma spoke up, getting her attention again as she slowly followed him, watching out for more ogres and random paperwork that flew this way and that overhead.

She followed him through another set of large doors, seeing a lone desk set up. 'This must be his office…' she deduced mentally, moving behind him a few more steps before standing in front of the desk. She watched him push a button and call for someone named "Botan". The…whatever…that she was supposed to work with.

"Howdy ho, Koenma sama. Botan, here. What did you need?" an extremely cheerful female voice asked, getting Kagome's attention as she turned around quickly, hiding her small egg behind her back, still wary of her surroundings.

"Botan, this is Kagome, Kagome, this is Botan, otherwise known as the Grim Reaper. She will be your guide until your spirit egg hatches, and you two will be working together." Koenma replied, looking over some papers now and seeming to be uninterested in the two females now.

The young miko blinked. 'Grim Reaper?!' she shouted mentally. "The name's Botan. Nice to meet'cha!" the girl in the pink kimono spoke up cheerfully, holding out her hand to Kagome. Swallowing a nervous lump in her throat, Kagome reached out and shook the girl's hand, and slightly relaxed. She seemed nice enough, and just because she was Lady Death, didn't mean she was really horrible, did it? Suddenly, an image of a bony skeleton draped in black robes seemed so silly now in her mind.

"I'm Kagome…nice to meet you too." Both girls turned to Koenma for further instructions, and he finally looked up from his papers.

"You two will be handling this case. A young girl's spirit held to a park bench in Shinjuku. I don't know the details, but this case shouldn't prove to be too difficult, ladies. Good luck!" he said, before dismissing them. Nodding, Botan took out her notebook, and stored the files she needed. Seemed it would be another long week. She wondered how the other spirit detectives were doing, but until she got a break, she couldn't go visit them. Looking to her new teammate, she smiled, before leading them out towards the doors to head into the Ningenkai.

"It's really a good deal to get your life back you know…it doesn't happen often." She added to the raven haired girl who had been quiet since they left Koenma's office.

Kagome looked up, before nodding softly. "I know…it's just…I kind of miss my friends. I won't get to see them again, most likely. The last thing they remember of me is dying. It kind of sucks." She smiled weakly, before looking down, and gasping. They were high above the air, and behind them was a large palace, much larger than what she had ever seen before, and below, was almost a wasteland looking place.

"What is that?!" she called out over the wind, looking to Botan.

"That's the Makai. The demon realm. We're going to the Ningenkai however, and hopefully you'll never have to go to the Makai for anything. It's dangerous, and not a place for humans to travel." She elaborated, as they sped on, going through a strange portal in the sky. It reminded Kagome of the Bone Eater's Well, and for the first time since she had died, she let herself cry silently for her loss.

A/N: Okay, what do you think? Good, bad? Needs more or less? Let me know and I'll see how fast my muses can give me another chapter. Those of you who've watched Yu Yu Hakusho may recognize the spirit egg plot bunny. Well, I'm also working with stories from the manga that weren't shown in the anime to move this story forward, but don't worry, soon she'll meet the tantei and things are going to get even more interesting. -

As always, please read and review!

Kudos, Loves!

animeinvasiongirl aka Sayuri-chan