Disclaimer: All InuYasha characters depicted are the intellectual property of Rumiko Takahashi and are copyrighted by Viz. All names and places, either factual or imaginary, are used for the purposes of entertainment only. I am in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of InuYasha. Copyright infringement is NOT intended.

Summary: Kagome must learn to let go of the past in order to save the future. Words she once spoke will be held against her "I am me! I am no one else!". Will Kagome be able to see past the face and into the soul?

*Major character deaths*

The Universal Balance

The sun was brutal as it beamed down rays of brilliant heat upon the tiny shrine at the top of the stairs. Near the top of those stairs was a young man with midnight locks, a firm build and dark determined eyes. With every step his breath became more labored and raspy. Most men would have given up or at least taken a rest, but not Hitomi.

Hitomi knew that his time was short. His father and bodyguard would no doubt discover his deceit and be hot on his heels. His entire life he had been warned against going to this shrine, but that only fueled his curiosity each time he passed. Today was his eighteenth birthday and he was going to find out what the shrines secret was.

When he was only a child he over heard a conversation between his father and several top physicians at the time. Each told his father that Hitomi would not live to be a teen. Most children would have been in tears or terrified with that knowledge, but not Hitomi. He saw this as a challenge to prove them all wrong. He worked hard at training his body to look fit and well even when he was not feeling it. A genius mind allowed him to skip grades and graduate at a young age.

With a final step he reached the top and saw a beautiful woman sitting beneath a huge shaded tree reading a book. Hitomi's chest constricted painfully and caused him to drop to his knees. The woman lost in her reading had not noticed Hitomi or his problem. With what he thought would be his last breath he called out. "Help me please." He then fell forward face down and blacked out.

At the sound of a desperate plea Kagome jumped up from her relaxed position under the god tree. She skid to a stop and dropped to her knees beside the stranger. She could hear his gasping breath and instantly turned him on his back. Her hand flew to her mouth as she scooted away in terror. "Naraku." Kagome said in a trembling voice.

"Wrong as usual Miko.' A very familiar dominant voice said from beside her.

Kagome eeped in surprise as Sesshomaru appeared from thin air.

"Sesshomaru!" Kagome screamed scrambling to her feet.

He simple raised a brow as if the situation was nothing, but an ordinary occurrence. Kagome stood rooted in either shock or terror as Sesshomaru simply kneeled beside Naraku and picked him up. It was when Sesshomaru tried to merely walk away with no explanation that Kagome regained her ability to think. She dashed over to the demon lord as he began his descent down the stairs.

"Wai…Wait a minute Lord Sesshomaru I think I deserve some kind of explanation." Kagome barked after skidding to a stop in front of the demon with her fists on her hips.

Sesshomaru mentally rolled his eyes in frustration on the outside his face was the usual annoyed deadpan look. "He is as much Naraku as you are Kikyo."

Kagome sucked in a breath. "Reincarnation."

Sesshomaru sidestepped around the priestess and once again started to move down the stairs to a waiting black car with dark tinted windows "It is not as simple as you."

Kagome furrowed her brow and frowned at his fading voice. She swung around and gave chase once more when his words finally sunk in.

"I am not simple! I will have you know that I am a very intelligent woman."

"Hm." Sesshomaru said proceeding to the waiting car.

Kagome huffed and hurried after him again. "Hm…What does that mean? Hm"

Opening the door to the car someone snatched the limp body from Sesshomaru.

"I leave you with this. Naraku and Onigumo were both thieves. The face you know as Naraku once belonged to a young Lord." Sesshomaru stated simply before getting into the car and driving away from a very confused Kagome.

Kagome remained staring down the empty road long after the car was out of sight. Her mind was a jumble with possibilities, but each one only left her with more questions. The day had started out so normally. Inuyasha had scampered off after Kikyo, Sango and Miroku were having a body and soul healing rest. Shippo had run off with his kit friends and Kagome was free to go home and visit her family. She should have known something life shaking was about to happen. She figured it would be when she returned to the feudal ages and not in the modern day. Some guy faints on her stairs that looks like Naraku, but is actually some other lord's reincarnation. Then Sesshomaru shows up and carries him off like some fairytale prince.

Kagome's eyes widened as a thought hit her like brick to the head.

"Oh my gosh; they must be lovers." Kagome whispered softly.

"Who must be lovers?" a baritone voice asked from behind Kagome.

Kagome whirled around to find Sesshomaru standing behind her.

"But…I...you…drove." Kagome sputtered at Sesshomaru.

"Eloquent as ever Kagome." Sesshomaru sighed

"Hey, you can't just show up on my doorstep and insult me." Kagome huffed

Sesshomaru raised a brow. "I am neither on your door step or insulting you.'

Kagome frowned and pointed. "You…You know what you are doing."

"If I did not know what I was doing would I not just walk around aimlessly?"

"Ugh, stop doing that and please tell me what is going on." She growled.

Sesshomaru's face grew serious.

"Much like you Kagome; I am a guardian per say. I am also an assassin when need be."

Kagome tilted her head in question and walked back to the god tree knowing that Sesshomaru would follow to finish what he needed to tell her. She had a feeling that what ever it was she would need to be sitting to hear it. She sat gracefully beneath the tree, but he remained standing to tower over her. Normally she would be terrified in such a position, but figured if he was going to cut her down he probably would have down that by now.

Sesshomaru stared down at the little priestess and then looked away to the well house.

"There are many things I am unable to tell you, but there is one thing that you must know. Hitomi will be vital in the final battle. The balance between the past, future, darkness and light shall always be." Sesshomaru's eyes once again captured Kagome's.

"You must be able to let go of the past or there will be no future."

Kagome's breath caught in her throat. "Are you saying I have to leave my friends behind after everything is said and done with? That I should break my promise to your brother and let him die alone." Kagome's voice turned dark and angry as she rose from her position into a tense stubborn stance.

An emotion crossed Sesshomaru's face for a brief moment. "They are already gone."

Kagome shook her head at the insinuation of his words.

"No…No! I just saw them! You are lying to me! This is some plot by both you and Naraku! I don't believe you! Liar!" Kagome screamed running to the well and jumping into the blue light. She looked up in time to see the grief stricken look on Sesshomaru's face, but she held on to the faith that her friends were fine and waiting for her.

The second her feet landed on hard ground the sounds of screaming and choking black smoke drifted down the well. In a panic she tried to climb out of the well, but a thick liquid coated the wall. She looked at her hands to see crimson covering her palms. Her eyes widened and just as she was about to scream for Inuyasha a hand covered her mouth.

"You must be silent." Sesshomaru whispered into her ear.

High above at the well rim the voices of unknown men drifted down into the darkness.

"What should we do with the bodies?" a gruff voice asked.

"Just dump them in the well." Another strange male voice said.

"Even that dog guy eared guy?" The first voice asked.

A sadistic chuckle echoed off the well walls.

"Just his body; tie his head to a tree limb by his hair. Do the same to that miko bitch."

Sesshomaru tightened his hold on Kagome's mouth hoping they could not hear her whimpers of sadness from the depths of the well. The first bodies to hit the ground in a bloody heap were his brother and the clay miko. The bodies of a naked male monk and female exterminator tumbled down the hole next. The monk was missing his manhood and the taijiya was sliced from her womanhood to her belly button. Both had their eyes plucked from the holes. Sesshomaru already knew the last two that would be thrown into the darkness and he quickly turned Kagome into his chest. With a liquid sounding glop the skinned body of the kit and fire cat hit the ground. He felt Kagome go limp in his arms and waited for the bandits to finish their vile work.

"Naraku made it sound like these guys were impossible beat. Easiest gold I ever made."

"I know what you mean. Once we had the miko; that dog was nothing and once he was gone they all just tumbled down." The bandit boasted.

Sesshomaru waited silently with the unconscious miko in his arms for the bandits to leave. He knew that they would meet with a horrifying end once Naraku found out that it was Kikyo whom they had murdered and not Kagome. Once the bandits were no longer in demon hearing Sesshomaru jumped out and back into the well letting the blue light carry him and Kagome back to the future.