Summary: It's been years since the defeat of Naraku, and it almost feels as if there have been to many years of peace. A feeling in Kagome's bones along with a few oddities that have been happening to her lately tell her that things are about to change, this time on a more personal level…oh and of course the world is in danger as well and the outcome of it all rests on a rag tag group of unlikely people yet again.

A/N: enjoy!

Prologue

This always seemed to happen faster than the young miko of the shikon no tama could process. She couldn't complain though, it's just how life seemed to work for her and it's not like she hadn't gotten a really long break. Naraku is gone, it's been six years since his destruction, and three of those years were spent stuck on the other side of the well five hundred years in the future. Of course now the reason for her decision to come back and stay permanently was questionable. Kagome and the hanyou Inuyasha don't seem to have the same compatibility as she thought. As the days went by she could feel him growing anxious and she knew that when he told her why it would break her heart. Not because she couldn't bare to live without him, but more so because she had no other place to be here. Miroku and Sango were together, making a home and having a family. Shippou left more often than she would have liked to go to the Kitsune School. Even Rin who trained with her a lot to hone her miko abilities, was often off somewhere either visiting The Western Lord Sesshomaru or more recently spending time with Kohaku when he wasn't out slaying demons. For as long as this life had begun she'd always imagined her place would be by Inuyasha side, and it always would be. They were best friends and she would support him in just about whatever he did, but the love that fueled the flame of belonging was dieing. She enjoyed her new family very much, save for Sesshomaru because as far as she knew he still hated humans, but was it so wrong for her to want a place. Three years now and even after being welcomed with open arms she still felt like a stranger in this time. That and, she couldn't help but feel like there was another purpose for her. There is no way the well would suddenly just let her through to stay here without there being a greater purpose to it all After all things never worked out smoothly for her before.

Right now was proving her point. Even though she'd grown up a lot in the past six years somehow Kagome managed to retain that naïve innocents she's so famous for, because it usually gets her into trouble. She can't help it though; she was never one to abandon someone in need. Currently that fact had her running through Inuyasha's Forest at top speed with a bundle in her arms. She was running in the opposite direction of Edo however. There was no way she could lead the youkai that were chasing her to the village. Stumbling over tree roots, and tearing through the low tree branches she ran till it was impossible to run anymore. She came to a skidding stop just before the edge of a cliff. Her lungs were on fire she must have run a good two miles before coming to this point. Looking down at the bundle in her possession then looking back to the youkai surrounding her, she wasn't able to think of a good plan.

"Give us the child." One large oni growled, stepping forward from the group. His skin was a sickly pale color, and covered in blotchy yellow spots. Dark red eyes of the oni pinned the young priestess with a threatening glare. In most cases lesser youkai would not dare take on the shikon miko; however, she had what they wanted.

"And why would I hand this innocent child over to you? What has he done? Tell me why do you want him so bad?" Kagome asked, chocolate brown eyes challenging the oni's as she stood her ground.

"It is none of your concern miko, but it is our duty to retrieve this child as our master wishes it." The oni growled and readied himself to charge the little miko. "So hand over the child and die!"

Kagome's eye twitched, "Don't you mean hand over the child or die" She grumbled. She instinctively went to take a step back but she was already up against the cliff's edge. With a soft sigh the young woman looked down at the trembling young boy in her arms. He was maybe about eight or nine in human years and probably only reached mid thigh when standing. She snapped back up when she felt a sudden spike in the youkai group's aura. Kagome had lost her bow an arrow somewhere along the way so the most she could do was erect a barrier. Anything more and there was a chance she could hurt the boy in her arms. The youkai launched at them, slamming into the barrier with a force that was defiantly much beyond their level. The power that resonated in each individual youkai was not something Kagome was expecting. It was unnatural, that much she could tell, but the source of it was unknown. Either way now was not the time to try and ponder it, with no way of countering even if she did find the cause. She could see the barrier starting to crack and shake under the pressure of the youkai.

"Hang on tight okay?" Kagome instructed, before throwing herself over the edge of the cliff. It wasn't a steep cliff as it had a bit of a slope, so when she hit the ground she hit it hard and continued to tumble down the rest of the way and into the river below. She was only human so a fall like that rendered her unconscious, or possibly dead. Her hold on the child loosened as they sunk in the river, allowing the boy to wiggle out of her arms. Two small clawed hands grabbed onto her clothing. He hoisted her up to the surface. He was sorry he couldn't be gentler with her but in his current state he wasn't strong enough to do anything but drag her further up shore. The current was fast flowing and washed them a bit away from where the youkai were. Not to mention their scent were faded now. So they were safe.

"Ryouta…" Kagome mumbled.

The boy, Ryouta, sat down beside the miko, knees drawn to his chest and he trembled slightly. He didn't know what to do. The miko was dieing, he could scent it and he could hear her heart beat slowing. They'd only known each other for a short while but she had been so kind to him and she was the only person he knew in this world. His mind drifted back to their meeting just a few short hours ago. Little did he know Kagome's mind was wandering through the events before this also.

She chose to stay in the Feudal Era, but now the reason for her choice seems to be fading away. No longer a child twenty year old Kagome Higurashi sits on the top step of the stairs that lead down into the ever growing village of Edo. With Naraku gone the days rolled by slowly and peacefully. The young priestess still travels with, her now distant reason for staying, Inuyasha to surrounding villages both far and near Edo exterminating some demon. She didn't bother going along this time, for some reason she just felt the need to stay in the village. There was a little bit of an argument but in the end she got her way and Miroku volunteered to take her place. On occasions they would be joined by Miroku when he wasn't needed at home or Shippou when he was in the neighborhood. Sango tended not to due much slaying anymore but instead trained her children and any other children who wished to become slayers. Miroku usually helped her train but also traveled a lot on his own as an exorcist in order to put food on the table for his family. Shippou on the other hand lived free as went off to train. He'd hit a few growth spurts in the last couple of years so he wasn't the helpless orphaned kit that Kagome found all those years ago. He stood about a foot or two shorter than her and trained at the Kitsune School in the mountains. Of course he came to visit as often as he could but it was obvious that he did not need Kagome to care for him as much as he used to. In fact it seemed like no one really needed her as much.

Now no one ever considered what she felt, after all she was their sister/mother/best friend. How could they not need her? And of course the villagers appreciated her quiet a bit too. But where as everyone found their special place inside this world, she had not. She had plenty of hearts that she'd managed to squeeze into but none of them were ones she could call home. Once she had thought her place would be by Inuyasha's side, they were both finding that instead of becoming closer they were moving a part. When she was around him she felt like she was home even when they were traveling. Obviously now that was not so. Kagome wasn't to sure whose fault it was. He hadn't been able to look her in the eyes for a while now, and she…she just hadn't been needing him as much. She could remember a time where she would have died at the thought of not being able to be with him, but somehow that flame had died.

With a sigh Kagome stood up and dusted her priestess garbs. She certainly had grown up. The years of training, and running for her life, had her slender and muscled but she was evened out by the curves she'd grown in to so she happily looked like a woman and not a body builder. She felt a familiar presence flying overhead, and so looked up to see Kirara flying over head. And on her back, Kohaku and Rin. The young woman chuckled softly; the girl had grown fonder and fonder of the young slayer ever since the day Sesshomaru had left her here. Speaking of, she hadn't seen Sesshomaru in quiet some time which was odd. He normally made weekly visits to check on Rin. The relationship between Kagome and Sesshomaru hadn't changed much; he only spoke to her when he wanted to know how Rin was doing with her training. Yes, they had discovered Rin had miko powers some years back. All the more reason to let the girl live life as a human, in his opinion. Kagome was pretty sure the taiyoukai was proud though. Still however, the Western Lord sure was keeping his distance lately.

Well there wasn't much else for Kagome to do. She'd picked herbs with Kaede early that morning, helped deliver a baby later around noon, meditated a bit with Rin before she ran off with Kohaku. All in all it was an eventful day, ending with a nice dinner at Sango's with her and her children. The sun was setting in the distance, and no youkai would dare try anything sneaky with the Western Lord's ward residing in the village so Kagome was free to pleasure herself in her favorite way. Bath time. Meandering through the village the young priestess made her way to her home. Upon enter she was always greeted by not so distant memories of when this home was shared by her and Inuyasha. She had had the pleasure of receiving it as a gift from Inuyasha during her welcoming party when she first came back. He hadn't been coming back home though, often times preferring to sleep in the trees or on the roof which was fine. The choice to stay in the Feudal Era was a difficult one but she felt compelled by something to come back. It was something that tore at her heart and her very soul. At one point she thought it was Inuyasha but now she was rethinking that notion. As she gathered her things she couldn't help but wonder why she was here. Of course she was more than happy to be with her new family, and she did love this era, but still she had to have some sort of purpose now.

As she came closer to the edge of the village she spotted Kaede at this entrance. Kaede had lived a long life for a human, longer than most people in this era could have hoped to live. Though she was old, and death would be on her soon she had a feeling she would get to live through one more adventure, or at least through most of it. Her miko powers had dulled with age, but they were still sharp enough and wise enough to sense that a major change was coming for these lands.

"Kaede, what are you doing out here?" The young miko asked curiously stopping beside her grandmother figure. The old woman looked over to Kagome and smiled softly. She didn't need her miko powers, just an old woman's intuition to see that this change could make a positive effect on the young girl.

"Ye need not worry child. I just felt a small chill in these old bones so I came out to think. How have ye been feeling?"

"Pretty good I suppose." There wasn't anything Kagome hadn't told Kaede. It was just so easy to talk to the old miko, so whenever things got to much it was hard not to consult her for advice. "Lately I've just been feeling like I should stay close to the village you know. Like I'd miss something important if I went too far. I do miss Inuyasha though, its awkward cooking ramen, like I did for lunch, and not have him hanging off my shoulder for some."

"Aye, ye two or very good friends." the woman nodded her head and turned to leave. "Kagome when change comes, please promise me you'll try your best to accept it. Otherwise I feel things will get too heavy."

"Oh...okay, see you later Kaede."

Humming softly as she walked the familiar path to the nearby hot spring, she felt a slight pull urging her to get their faster. She sped up her pace until she came across the god tree. She sighed softly and ran her delicate hand over the bark knowing it would look exactly the same five hundred years from now. Every now and again she came around here when she was feeling lonely and would fall asleep at its base. However she could never feel upset or depressed once she got in the area.. She only smiled, there were too many good memories represented by this tree. Inuyasha. Even with the growing distance between them he still remained her number one. On that note she realized she didn't feel the pull anymore. Strange, but she decided to get going. If she spent to long out here and wasn't back before he returned from wherever he'd gone, even with the lack of threats, Inuyasha would worry and eventually come after her and interrupt her good mood and bath with his over protective stupidity. It felt kind of strange to not know where he was, but he didn't tell her much about the things he does anymore.

As she walked further to the god tree she could feel the pull once more. Once she was completely out of sit from said tree she began to jog…then run. She ran until she reached the clearing, stopping just before the edge of the spring. The pull was gone once again, but this time its sudden disappearance disturbed her. The strange force attracting her was a new thing but there had been other things that have been out of the ordinary. Sometimes she'd swear she'd heard a child laughter blowing in the breeze, even if she was far away from the village. Sometimes in her sleep she'd feel like something was cuddling up to her, much like Shippou used to.

"Well I suppose it is about time for things to start becoming strange." Kagome sighed. There had been a good couple years of peace, but really in this day and age how could anyone expect it to last. Sure Naraku was gone but during the journey to defeat him there ended being quiet a bit of extra sources of evil that needed destroying. There were defiantly more out there and in a way everyone seemed to just be waiting for one to be powerful enough to start a riot.

"Why do you say that?"

The soft voice broke into her thoughts as she readied to slip into the steamy bath waters. Gasping and in her normal clumsy way she literately slipped into the spring. Coughing, Kagome popped back up above the water. Sighing she sunk into the water letting it comfort her. Okay she wasn't to sure if she was finally going crazy or not but she could have sworn she heard a child. But that couldn't be possible,

"All the children are in the village, I'm sure of it."

"What is a village?"

The young miko's eyes snapped open and stared straight into a pair of pale blue eyes of a child, a youkai child no less. "W-Who are you?"

Startled by the miko's tone, the child quickly swam away hid himself behind a rock. Kagome instantly regretted yelling, she was just startled. She knew she was going to have to be careful, youkai parents were never to far away from their child and they tended to be a well…protective. Then again she could have always run away, but that's just not Kagome.

"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to scare you. What are you doing here, are your parents near by?" Kagome asked, being sure to stay where she was. Safe distances were always ideal.

The miko asked some good questions but none that the boy could answer. He didn't know where he was or what he was doing here. Parents? He wasn't sure if he knew what that was. So he stayed behind the rock, silent.

Seeing that he wasn't respond, Kagome moved slowly, going closer to where he was. "Do you have a name at least?"

Name…name…the boy tried hard to think of something or remember something. Sighing softly, relieved as something popped in to his mind. "Ryo...Ryouta." He answered.

Kagome smiled and slowly circled around the rock. She was glad she made a habit out of carrying a towel with her. Making sure it was snug around her before coming face to face with the boy once more she spoke. "That's a nice name. So are you alone?" She asked. She was looking straight at him but she still made sure to give him his space.

"I just woke up." He answered apathetically, and then added "Alone."

"Oh well, how long were you sleeping?" Kagome asked. She watched as Ryouta mulled over the question. This time she took in his appearance. His skin was pale, too pale for a child. His eyes were a pale blue and were lined with lighter blue markings. His hair looked as silky as any other youkai's, medium length and pure white. However instead of having pointed ears, he had a pair of white fox ears on his head. He had a tail as well, she could tell because it was swaying slowly in the water. The only other distinguishing thing about him was the black 'x' on the left side of his collar bone.

"I don't know. I can't remember anything about me other than my name, and that you woke me up." He answered, shocking Kagome once more. "Why did you ask for my name? Didn't you already know it?"

"No I didn't, and how did I wake you up?"

"You were calling my name, and then I woke up." He said with a shrug. The way he was acting, calm and indifferent about everything reminded Kagome of somebody. She could barely read his emotions, other than a bit of confusion it was like he felt nothing else or at least nothing she could see.

"Well I'm not to sure what's going on but if you don't have anywhere else to go come home with me." Kagome suggested. When there was no protest from the boy, she decided to continue her back quickly. As she bathed and he waited, they talked or well more like they played question and answer.

"Where were you sleeping?"

"Here."

"Here where?

"In this water."

"How? I've been coming here for a while I've never seen you."

"Well I woke up here, so this has to be where I was sleeping."

"Oh well, how old are you?"

"I told you I don't remember anything about me."

"Well are you at least going to bathe?"

"Hn."

And that's when it hit her. Sesshomaru. Oh lord, she hoped this child wouldn't be that bad. He accepted the bar of soap she gave him, and simple mimicked most of what she did for himself.

"Ryouta, behind your ears." She said, pulling back his hair. She actually wasn't very shy about it and washed behind his ears and his hair. Ryouta was more shocked about hearing his name. It made him tense, but he soon relaxed. Even though he could assume he'd been asleep for however long he'd been a live, now that he was awake he felt very empty. Until she said his name, it felt very special; hearing his name spoken for the first time. For someone who was seeing this world for the first time he felt oddly calm. As Kagome worked through his hair, he started to wonder about her.

"You are human? You aren't scared…you are miko." He stated.

"How do you know all that?"

"I just seem to know. It's just something I sensed and the words to describe it I just seem to know. I feel like you should be afraid of me."

"Hmm, well yes I am a miko and human. As for being afraid of you, I just don't feel like I have anything to fear about you. I have lots of friends human, youkai, and hanyou."

"Hanyou?"

"A child of a youkai and human."

"Hn." He didn't sound like he had any opinion on the idea of a youkai and human mix. Once again he just sounded apathetic. They finished the rest of their bath in relative silence. It wasn't awkward but actually welcomed as the both of them tried to sort out their own matters in their minds. Kagome left the bath first dried herself and put on her clothes.

"Here use this towel for now." Ryouta didn't seem to have any clothes so she'd just wrap him up in the towel for now. Once he climbed out of the spring she noticed just how small he was. He looked about eight or nine, pretty short, and way to skinny. Once he was out of the water Ryouta began to feel very weak, and then came the other problem. He didn't know how to walk or maybe at least didn't remember how to walk. He could doggy paddle instinctively in the water though. Before the boy could strain himself more to get his legs moving correctly, Kagome wrapped him up in the towel and picked him up.

"Hn." Even the lightest shade of pink was visible on his pale skin. Kagome just giggled and started to carry him off to the village.

As he took him away from the spring however, Ryouta tensed up eyes widening. Looking down, Kagome turned around to see the spring bubbling over.

"Run. Run now!" Ryouta shouted suddenly. He didn't know what was happening either but he could feel it in his bones. It was something he was very, very afraid of.

And now here they were here. He wanted to save her but he didn't know how. Turn his head to look at her he watched as the color drained from her face. His eyes widened in horror. He couldn't just sit and watch, but what could he do?

"Save her." A voice, it came from inside him. It startled him but he got over it and focused.

"How?" He asked.

"Make her your mother…"

"Mother? What's Mother?"

"You only have this one chance. She is the one, it is written. Since it is written so it shall be. Bring your claw to her collar and make her your own. "

"I can't just claim someone…I just met her and I hadn't even asked her. I don't even now what mother is how do I know I want it?" He growled, but he couldn't stop his own hand from moving, and pulling her shirt down. He brought his claw to her left collar bone and dug deep into the skin and carved into he actual bone an 'x' identical to his. When he was finished he brought his hand, still not listening to him, to his mouth and liked her blood off his fingers.

"It is done."

Ryouta was suddenly feeling much better. Renewed strength allowed him to stand up and well he could walk well enough now. Still would take practice he supposed. But now what to do about Kagome. He felt ashamed for what he just did but at the same time happy though he didn't know why. Now he just had more questions. Why was he suddenly just alive? When exactly did he fall asleep and for how long? He couldn't remember anything important other than his name. He couldn't even remember living in this world, not once. There were things he sort of knew but it didn't make sense as to why he knew them. Like about Youkai, he knew what they are and that he's one, he knows humans, but why didn't he know what a Hanyou was. The boy ran his hand through his hair and sighed. There wasn't a single thing he could do right now, except build some shelter. He didn't want to touch Kagome after what he just did, so he'd make something around her. He only collected wood from around the shoreline; he wouldn't dare leave her by herself.

It was nothing great since he didn't know what to build. He just knew it needed a roof and some calls so that's what he did. After a few hours he made something that could only be described as a rather large pile of wood. But it was good enough to him it had an opening for an entrance and space for Kagome and himself. A soft yawn escaped the child's mouth. Though he was hungry he couldn't think about eating, and decided to just crawl into the small shelter with Kagome. He curled up as close as he would allow himself to be next to Kagome, at least close enough to feel peace inside himself. With a few sniffs he could tell she was doing much better, no longer near death but she was also changing inside and little did he know when he woke up the next morning she'd be changed on the outside too.

The late night soon rolled into early morning and Kagome was the first to stir from slumber. She was surprised by a few things. One thing was the fact that she was even alive right now, and she was only a little bit sore. Two, she was baffled at why there was a pile of wood surrounding her. Three, once she tried to sit up she found that she could because of the small boy curled up and clinging to her side. Somehow he squirmed over during the night. Kagome was relieved to see he was still there with her, and well as it seemed. Finally she noticed the big something though. As she inhaled the cool morning air she could it to be much more than that. It was like she truly smelled the world for the first time. Her eyes drifted to Ryouta. To her he smelt of pine trees and wild berries. It was a cute smell for him. Her smile soon turned to a frown though.

"Why can I smell so well?" She murmured. Carefully detaching the boy from her she tried to get up. A sharp pain lashed through her head, and her eyes widened in a state of shock.

"This is you now. Not Youkai in physical attributes but in everything else to match his own. Still human as it is written to tie the bonds of the future. You are the protector. You are the Mother. So it is written so it shall be. Dark times will descend upon good. Be sure to follow the sun, trust the moon and find the path and connect the broken pieces. Clear your heart of unneeded things to be able to expect the unexpected as you unlock the weapon. Will you wield the weapon or not? Even fate does not know. "

"Can't I ever get clear instructions?" Kagome murmured, holding her head in her hands. Moving her hand away from her, she examined it. 'Not Youkai, still human on the outside. But…to match his own.' She closed her eyes as she thought over this and extended her senses to listen and smell. Sure she may have just gotten these extra powers but, it was a lot like expanding her miko energy to scan an area. She'd trained hard to hone her powers so she was able to apply them to this. Yes she could hear the life around her far and wide, as well as she could smell it too. She could here feet, a small pack, and running. Kagome sighed, as one pulled away running faster than the rest not by much though but enough to clue her in on who it maybe. She ran her fingers through Ryouta's hair, and then crawled out of the little hovel. After getting out she almost felt bad for leaving him in there, after all the place looked like it'd cave in if the wind blew to hard.

"Kagome!" The familiar voice drew her out of her thoughts. "Kagome! We've been looking everywhere for you!" The wolf youkai Ayame didn't hesitate to tackle her friend and sister to the ground in a rush of worry and relief. Kouga arrived not to long after dragging Ginta and Hakku behind him.

"Can you to at least try to keep up, geez." Kouga, who Kagome was very proud of because he mated Ayame, growled.

"Its not our fault…" Ginta grumbled

"You're always in such a hurry can't you ever slow down." Hakku added.

Kouga brushed them off and wandered over to his mate and Kagome, whom he now thought of as a sister instead of a lover. He was more than relieved to see Kagome but there was something different in her scent, and more obviously her eyes. Instead of their normal chocolate brown they were a pale blue with a whiter highlights around the sides.

"Hey Kagome, your eyes are…well, they're blue." He pointed out, drawing the attention of both girls to him. Ayame looked at Kagome, her own eyes widening as she noticed this as well. Getting up so Kagome could as well then they would talk. When Kagome didn't show back up in the village that night before Inuyasha naturally he went to look. And as Kouga tells Kagome apparently he stumbled across a large oddly powered group of youkai chanting about finding some boy and a priestess. So then the search was on and just about everyone was looking for her. To here Inuyasha was working so hard, and to even ask for help from Kouga just so he could find her. Certainly enough it tugged at her heart strings, as well as the strings of someone else. In the makeshift pile of wood, Ryouta was clutching his heart. It was an incredible pain, for his first time ever feeling such a thing. Mustering the strength the boy crawled over to the opening. Peering out at Kagome and the wolf youkai. He watched them laugh and talk, and it made his blood boil. He couldn't hold back the deep growl bubbling from his chest. He just couldn't stand it; hearing about all these people Kagome cared about.

Kouga's eyes snapped towards the makeshift home, claws extending as he moved into a defensive position in front of Kagome and Ayame. No sooner did Ryouta spring out of the shelter, eyes red and ready to tear into Kouga. He was still just a child though, and not strong enough to pose a threat to the wolf tribe leader. Only because Kouga could not fully dodge, in defensive of the girls behind him, Ryouta's claws merely nicked his as he evaded them. One large hand wrapped himself around the boy's neck catching him in mid air and tightening its hold. Ryouta choked out and looked to Kagome.

After the initial shock of it all, Kagome moved faster than she ever had before and grabbed Kouga.

"Let him go, Kouga!" She growled out. Kouga was shocked to say the least. Did Kagome just growl at him? Seriously just growl…like a youkai. Angry and confused. Kouga glared at the child he held in his claws. Sure he was just a child but hadn't years of deception and betrayal taught him to know better. It wasn't only that but he felt some strange waves rolling off this kid. It was conflicting, his auras, it was like he had to different ones and as if they were in fact in conflict with each other. It made it hard to tell just where this kid stood as far as safe and dangerous stood. Looking into his eyes, then at Kagome's they were damn near the same and Kouga didn't like it. How many times would that mutt let Kagome fall into danger?

"What did you do to Kagome?" He barked. When he received only a whimper he squeezed tighter. By that time Kagome had to be held back by Ayame, and surprisingly Kagome was matching her strength.

"I..I… made her..." He could feel his body go numb from the lack of air. "Mother." He murmured before falling into unconsciousness.