Two blackhaired women stared at each other, one of them letting out a silent scream as she was being pushed off the cliff they were standing on. The other woman's eyes glittered in malice as she saw her mirror-image falling down towards the streaming river meters under them. Her eyes widened however when she felt the other woman's hands on her, pulling her with her into the depths. "If I can't live, you can't either Kikyo." the younger woman said as her blue eyes met with the other woman's eyes sadly. Kikyo snarled shocked and flailed with her arms, her hand touching the famed Shikon jewel by accident. Kagome's hand went up to the jewel that was hanging around her neck protectively and as the hands from both priestesses touched on the jewel they were invelloped in a bright light. Two twin screams echoed through the night as the two figures plummeted to their deaths.
It was already the next day when a dark-haired figure stumbled out of the water cautiously. It was a woman that wore the traditional miko garb and she seemed to be disoriented as she looked around. She almost fell when she got steadied by a couple of white serpentine creatures. The woman stared at them with an almost childlike fascination. "What are you..?" she asked, her voice sounding light and clear as the creatures diligently led her onto land safely. We are yours to command milady, we are life energies that you manipulated into form she heard a sudden hissing voice say in her head. She nodded, although she was confused and walked on, deeper into the forest close to the river that she had come from. She heard a soft rumbling sound and looked around perplexed. The ghostlike serpents encircled the ravenhaired beauty protectively as they seemed to sense an incoming demonic presence. "Human, give me the Shikon Jewel, and I shall not eat you!" she suddenly heared close to her. The woman whipped around curiously, was that foul looking creature talking to her? She looked at the demon silently and it began to fume. "What are you looking at, you wench? You will pay for your insolence!" the demon screamed furiously as it lunged at her angrily. The woman raised her hands as if to protect herself, and to her amazement a purple see-through barrier of sorts erected in front of her, shielding her from the demon's attack. The demon punched at the barrier, but it wouldn't budge. "How..?" the woman wondered as she looked at the barrier in front of her in awe. Serpentine hisses in her head explained how it was done and she was startled when she heard an enraged roar coming from the demon. "Don't ignore me, human. You think this puny shield can stop me?" the demon raged angrily as it finally managed to break the shielding barrier. Without knowing how she did it, the woman instinctively placed her hands with the palms towards the creature and yelled: "Begone!" A sudden flash of purple blinded the creature and before the woman's eyes he began to crumble into ash. "I did that..?" she wondered as she looked at the ash that seemed to be cleared away by the wind, leaving nothing in place of the demon that had threatened her. Soft hissing sounds were heard in her head once more as she continued on her way to an unknown location, the serpents guiding her.
"Kagome!" a small orange-haired kitsune was yelling desperately as he scurried around the forest. "Shut up, you brat." a silver-haired hanyou replied annoyed as he hit the small kid on the head. "Inuyasha! Don't hit Shippou! When Kagome gets back you can be sure you will be "sitted" a lot!" a brown-haired female with a giant boomerang said as the little kitsune rushed over to her and hid behind her. "I would listen to my dear lady Sango if I were you, Inuyasha." a young man in purple monk clothes said as he got closer to the group. "Why thank you Miroku." the woman called Sango said appreciatively before her fist connected with his jaw. "You hentai monk! Must you always ruin things?" Sango yelled outraged as Miroku smiled sheepishly as he nursed his jaw. Sango just closed her eyes at his lack of answer and thought about her best friend. "Kagome, when are you coming back...?" she whispered softly as her eyes locked onto the moon.
The woman and her serpents moved through the forest at a steady pace. She suddenly heard yelling in the distance, and she curiously made her way over to the edge of the forest. What she saw startled her into the furthest of her being. A angry mob seemed to be surrounding a young child and they seemed intent on beating him to death. She felt an unexplainable rage as her eyes locked with the child's odd crimson-colored ones. "Stop!" she said steadily as she stepped closer to the mob of people. "...A miko?" she heard voices around her whisper as she got in front of the child. "Milady, you musn't protect this child, it is a demon! It ate all our chickens, leaving us with no food." a balding man said as he turned to her, his face red of anger. Her voice got colder as she adressed the mob in front of her: "You were about to beat a child, no matter if it was a demon child or human child to death about some chickens?" Her purple colored eyes swept over the suddenly cowering mob around her. Around her the ghost-like serpents made themselves known, scaring everyone into submission. Suddenly a female shriek was heard: "A demon miko! Get her!" This shriek brought everyone out of their stupor and they turned onto her. Before they had the chance to touch her however, she coldly said: "You have chosen your path. I will not stand here and be beaten." Her serpents hissed threatheningly, baring their fangs and her hands glowed a eerie purple. This didnt deter the mob as they tried to swing at her to hit her. She narrowed her eyes as she erected a barrier once more and let the serpents loose on the people in front of her. "Don't hurt the ones that wouldn't do me or the child harm." she commanded and with that the serpents dove into the people frenziedly. The child in front of her looked at her in awe, she wasn't sure if it was because of her powers or because she saved him. She crouched down so she was to the childs level and ignored the anguished screams for help outside of the barrier she had erected around her and the boy. "Are you allright..?" she asked softly, her eyes meeting his once more. The child nodded silently, before asking: "Why did you help me? They are right, I am a demon." The woman shook her head sadly and as she reached over to pat the child on the shoulder he flinched back. "It's allright, I won't hurt you. And about your question, I couldn't leave a child, no matter demon or not like that." she whispered softly and she smiled as the child seemed to relax a bit. She reached out her hand for the child to take and said: "Come with me. I'll keep you safe."
Days later the stench of death still lingered in the air and almost covered another, faint feminine scent. The man sniffed around as he looked around the village in front of him. It seemed deserted, save for some people that were busy rebuilding the village or burying the dead. "Woman, what happened here?" the man asked a woman who quickly took a few steps back as she saw the man in front of her. Her eyes lingered on him and his companions and she swallowed with difficulty. "Please do not kill me, youkai-sama." she mumbled as she bowed her head. The man waved with his hands and repeated his question, a bit gentler this time. "It was a miko! The other villagers were about to kill a demon child, and she stopped them...but then they turned on her and then she killed the ones who wanted to harm her and the child." The woman said as she cowered in front of the imposing youkai. The youkai turned his back on her and the rest of the village as he sniffed into the air once more. "What is it Kouga-sama?" one of his companions asked. "Kagome...but there's something off about her." he answered before speeding off in a whirlwind. His two companions looked at each other confused before rushing of behind their leader.
"Miko-sama..?" the boy with black with white hair asked his silent travelling companion. "Yes Hiei-kun?" the woman said as she looked at the young demon child that had accompanied her so far. He hadn't been all too eager to do so, but over time he came to respect her since she treated him as no one had ever treated him before. "There's someone following us..." Hiei said as he stopped and stood in front of the miko that had saved him. She placed a calming hand on his shoulder and said: "I can feel it too...the person has a couple of shikon shards..but I can't seem to sense anything malicious.." Hiei nodded at that, at first he had been wary of the human woman's occasional reassuring touches, but he found himself figuring this was how a protector acted. Even though it was difficult to tell, he did enjoy it that the older female cared for him. The incoming demon was nearing them with increasing speed and the woman pointed to the tree. Hiei nodded and hid higher up where he wouldn´t be seen. The woman grasped the jewel around her neck and played with the sword in her hand nonchalantly as she awaited the demon´s arrival. A whirlwind stopped in front of her and a male youkai appeared, looking at her cautiously. ``Kagome!`` he said and she just glanced at him, looking at him blankly. ``Youkai, state your business.`` she said coldly as her eyes locked with his. He looked at her shocked before asking: "Kagome..? How could you forget me?" The woman twitched almost unnoticeable and demanded: "Kagome, is that my name?" Now Kouga was at a complete loss of words and he could only blink at her stupidly. "Well?" the woman said as she got a bit impatient at the lack of answers that she received from the youkai in front of her. She could sense that he was powerful, yes, and that he thought he knew her but she couldn't recall ever meeting him. Kouga's two companions arrived and they looked at their leader confused. "What is wrong with your woman, Kouga-sama?" Ginta asked curiously as he looked at the woman in front of them. "I don't know, but I'm determined to find out." Kouga said as he pulled the woman in his arms. The woman was so shocked at the behavior that she didn't do anything. As she was pulled against the warm manly body she couldn't help but feel it was wrong. She struggled insistantly as she suddenly yelped: "I don't recognize you, and I insist you unhand me immediately demon!" Kouga quirked an eyebrow and said: "You are my intended mate, and I will do no such thing." The priestess's eyes narrowed and she said: "If you don't put me down right now, so help me Kami, I will purify you." There was a small black blur and before anyone could react there was a little demon with growling at them threateningly. Hiei had sensed the priestess's reluctance of hurting the youkai, but he certainly didn't have any qualms about that. He picked up the sword that the priestess had carried and which now lay on the ground forgotten and glared at the demons in front of them. "Let the miko go." Hiei commanded and out of surprise Kouga let the priestess unattended for a brief second. That was enough for her to scramble away from him and stand beside Hiei, whom she petted on the head. "Why you little...!" Kouga said as he lunged forward to the demon child. The priestess erected a barrier and he hit it head on.
Kouga groaned as he touched the place where the the barrier hit his head. Since when had Kagome been able to make such powerful barriers? Something wasn't right here. He then blinked and opened his eyes. He saw the concerned eyes of his trusty companions and heard a "Keh!". He whirled around to see Inuyasha and the rest of his little group standing there. "Where'd she go?" Kouga asked as he touched his head gingerly. "Sorry Kouga-sama, she dissapeared with the young boy. We couldn't follow her. "You're saying you lost Kagome?" Inuyasha angered voice said as he made himself known. Shippou looked at Kouga with big watery eyes and asked: "My kaasan was here..?" Kouga sighed, this wasn't going to be an easy task to tell them. The Inuyasha tachi had always more or less been a tight-knit group of friends. "She didn't remember me." Kouga said, deciding to start out gently before giving them the big shock. "Keh, serves you right for calling her "my woman" all the time you mangy wolf!" Inuyasha said to Kouga. Kouga had to fight back a growl, and said: "She didn't even remember her name, nor my companions's names, chances are that she forgot about everyone, including you you stupid mutt!" Inuyasha's thriumpathic face fell and Shippou began crying as he realized Kagome probably forgot about him as well. "Kaasan!" he cried out while Sango tried to console him unsuccessfully.
A lot further away two figures made their way to a river bank. "Allright, let's rest a bit, yes?" the priestess said to the child next to her as she sat down at a shadowed area. Hiei nodded and sat down next to the miko, feeling strangely at ease with her. "Miko-sama, do you not have a normal name?" he then suddenly asked the woman next to him as she was making a circlet of flowers. "I don't remember if I have one...that youkai called me Kagome...but that name seems off." the priestess said, her face pensive as she placed the crown of flowers on Hiei's head. Hiei growled and smacked it away from his head with an embarrased flush, making the flower crown fall on the grass between them. He looked the woman threatheningly, his cheeks still tinged pink. The priestess giggled innocently, and her eyes were warm as she looked at the young boy. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. But the look on your face!" she said as her eyes still sparkled mischievously. "Damn miko." Hiei muttered as he glared at the priestess darkly. He had never seen her smile so carefree before, and they had been travelling together for what seems like weeks already. He saw that she looked even prettier when she smiled and realized he didn't even mind that much that she was laughing at his expense.
It wasn't until later that the paths of the priestess and Inuyasha finally crossed. Inuyasha had sniffed the air and had smelled a scent that seemed to have something of both Kagome and Kikyo's scents. "How strange..I smell both Kikyo and Kagome..." he muttered softly, which caught the attention of the inconsolable Shippou. "Kagome...? Is she around here..?" the kitsune's eyes seemed to dart around wildly, trying to spot his foster mother. Inuyasha began running into the direction of the scent and didn't even mind that Shippou had perched himself up on his shoulder, holding on for dear life. "Miko-sama." Another child said a bit further away. The priestess immediately nodded and they stopped, taking a moment to catch their breath if they needed to fight once more. The woman could feel several ki coming closer to her and she didn't want to ruin her chances. She gave the sword to Hiei and stood still, her face in the direction of the incoming persons. She had expected a lot, from having an arrow shot towards her to being slashed at with a sword, but she didn't expect this. An orange furball propelled itself onto her, launching itself in her arms. Surprised she held the little orange kitsune in her arms. "Kaasan!" it cried happily as it snuggled into her breasts. She didn't want to hurt the boy, he obviously saw her as a mother and she didn't even remember his name. It's Shippou, and you're his foster mother. The serpents hissed at her and she quickly stroked the little fox demon on the head. "Shippou, it's allright..." she said softly. Shippou looked up at her and soon pointed to her eyes. "Whaaa...what happened to you Kaasan? And why do you smell like the clay miko too?" he asked as he rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't imagining things. The priestess sighed, and she placed the kitsune kid down. Hiei had been startled at first, but now that he had regained composure he was silently glaring daggers at the smaller demon. "I don't know what to tell you...all I do know is that I woke up, and found myself in a river on the other side, far away from here. I don't know how I got there, or how..." she broke off when she heard other voices. A rough voice said: "Keh, you stupid wench, we have been looking all over the place for you, you still need to get all the shikon shards!" The priestess didn't turn around but both Hiei and Shippou bristled angrily at the other person calling the miko a stupid wench. "Will you please sit Inuyasha? Please?" Shippou asked as his eyes shone with unshed tears. "'Sit..,?" the woman asked confused. The single word was followed by a loud thud and a string of curses coming from nearby. Miroku and Sango both made their way to what they believed to be Kagome, and hugged her. The priestess was so surprised she just let it happen. "Ehm...hi..." she said confused, and she looked surprised when another person, a half-demon got into her sight as well. "Stupid wench, I oughta teach you ..." Inuyasha grumbled as he went towards the miko threatheningly. "Sit." the priestess said quickly, before he could get any closer. And once again the half demon fell onto the ground face-first. Both children laughed at the peculiar site and even the priestess couldn't resist laughing.