A/N: A story being written simply for fun, expect very... spaced out chapters.

Numinous Reality

Chapter Zero

Prologue

Written By: Boukyaku

I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho, or InuYasha.

"-it was rumored that the jewel could grant anyone a single wish. Miss Yukimura, will you please tell us what the fabled name of this jewel was called?"

Chocolate brown eyes moved from the notebook laid innocently on the desk, where-upon half of the page was filled with neatly handwritten notes, and rested on the teachers expectant one's. As expected, she stood from her desk chair to face the teacher; "That would be the Shikon no tama? Or Jewel of the Four Souls?"

"That is correct. You may be seated."

Keiko Yukimura followed the teacher's instruction and replaced herself in the desk. Just as she had been in Junior High at Sarayashiki, she was also a top student at the Girl's Academy, Daiichi, she had decided to attend in her High School Entrance Exams, and it was of no surprise that she made it in easily. She was a third year now, her hair still the same colored brunette as it had always been; the only difference being the length as it was no longer the bouncy shoulder length hair she had in Junior High, but instead long silky tresses that fell neatly to her lower back. She was easily one of the most attractive girl's in the Academy, and despite being approached by many of the boys from the Academy right next door-she devoted her heart to the one boy that she had spent most of her life with- Yusuke Urameshi.

"-it could be of anything one desired, so long as it was selfless needs." Keiko turned her head slightly, her brown eyes moving to look back down at the notebook paper below her as she tuned into the teacher and continued to take her notes of the fabled tale of the Shikon no tama. "The story of the Shikon no tama begins with the life of a beautiful woman who was undoubtedly one of the most powerful human's of her time."

In another school, another girl of age seventeen was seated listening to the same tale. This very same girl seemed less interested though, and instead was drawn to the world on the other side of the glass window. Gaily blue eyes watching idly as a bird teased her with its freedom from the insufferable classroom that imprisoned Kagome Higurashi. Slowly the girl turned her attention back to the teacher and at least tried to pay attention to the less-detailed version of the story she had come to know-no... she had lived it, so she knew exactly how the story went.

Two years add or take a few months had passed since Kagome first fell down the well to the Feudal Era, and in that time the young time-traveling priestess herself had grown and matured into a beautiful young woman that caught the eyes of many hormone driven boys. The same raven colored black hair, with an added few inches and decreased amount of bounce to it. The full body, toned by two years worth of traveling and fighting, that was often covered by the garb's of a priestess, something she had started wearing after a few-too-many destroyed school uniforms. Because of her hatred for the ridiculous outfit's that made her look all too much like Inuyasha's past love, Kikyo, she begged her mother to modify the outfit to her liking. This was simple enough since the color of the hakama's(bottoms) were changed to a dark forest green, and the sleeve's to her haori(top) were often pulled back so it appeared she was wearing a short sleeved haori instead. She also made sure to keep her hair up to avoid even that resemblance with Kikyo who was always seen with her hair down or pulled back into a low ponytail.

"Kagome...!" A hushed whisper brought the young woman from her thoughts, and she glanced over at one of her closest friends, Ayumi, who handed her a small note before turning her attention back to the teacher. Ayumi had been the only one that transferred to the same high school as Kagome, as Yuka and Eri had been drawn to infamous Meio Academy where there were supposedly many hot guys. It seemed that the two girl's hadn't grown out of that stage of life, but at least they had gotten into a better school in the process while Kagome had no choice but to attend a "not-so-well-known" high school because of her grades. Ayumi could have done so much better for herself as well, but Kagome was thankful that her friend was there for her. Not to mention- Ayumi had found herself a nice boyfriend by attending school with her. The two were inseparable, and were the cutest of couples.

Yuka and Eri want to hang out. Interested?

If only she had the time.

Sorry Ayumi, I promised my mother I'd help with spring cleaning. Another time, maybe?

Passing it swiftly back to her friend, she watched Ayumi read it and give an understanding nod of her head. Kagome smiled then and turned exhausted eyes back outside to where the bird still sat perched upon the branch. It wasn't all a lie; for she did indeed promise her mother such a thing. There was the chance that rumors of Naraku had been heard though and she would have to check back in with Inuyasha and the other's in the Feudal Era if only for a few minutes.

Yes, it was true. They still had yet to defeat Naraku and rid him of this world. It had been well over half a year ago when they had their last battle with the evil half-demon, then he had disappeared completely taking any evidence of ever existing with him. They searched for two months straight, and with no rumors or clues to lead them to him-they finally cut back on searching for the time being. Even Sesshomaru, Kouga, and Kikyo- none had sensed him or his incarnation's since the disappearance. It was a good thing, for Kagome could finally get some time in school and raise her grades back up. It was a bad thing though too. Miroku had not long to live before the curse would completely suck him in and everyday it seemed the monk was slowly giving up on the small hopes of living. Because of this, Sango had finally agreed to bear his children. The two were married a short time after they returned to Kaede's and Sango was now close to five months pregnant with their first child.

'I wonder if it'll be a boy or girl... or what the name will be!' She smiled brightly, and a moment later was startled as the bell rang signaling the end of class and school for the day. Just as everyone else was, she too packed her small school briefcase and stood up to wait for Ayumi.

"You didn't seem very interested in the lecture today, Kagome." Ayumi lead them to the door and exited into the hallway where students were rushing off to go home to afterschool club activities, or the nearest arcade for the evening.

"Well, I can't really help that. My family's shrine is famous for the story after all." Kagome slung her briefcase over her shoulder and easily made her way through the crowds of people. It was a sea of black and lavender in the halls. A new school always meant new uniforms, and instead of the sailor suit like uniform she sported in middle school, she and Ayumi were now clad in lavender blazer's(with a black ribbon on front) and mid-thigh length black skirts that matched the all-black uniform the boys wore.

"That's true. Passing the quiz tomorrow should be an easy task for you."

"Quiz? I must have been day-dreaming a lot more then I originally thought." She murmured in slight amusement, her eyes moving to the front entrance(or exit at this time) where Takiya Yoroi was waiting for the two of them. "You're boyfriend is waiting for you like always. That's so sweet."

"Honestly, Kagome-chan..." Ayumi rolled her eyes briefly before meeting her boyfriend and greeting him with a small kiss that had Kagome glancing in a different direction for unknown reasons. Was it jealousy over the fact she had yet to find her special someone? She had waited for Inuyasha to get over Kikyo for too long, and with his heart still dead-locked on the un-dead priestess-she finally gave up on there ever being a relationship between the two of them. It seemed almost impossible anyway. The two lived in two separate worlds.

"Good afternoon, Kagome. I see you've still got the up-most attention of the male population in school." She followed his eyes to the hallway behind her, just in time to see many gazes quickly divert to a different direction. She gave a small huff and turned her eyes back to the amused couple that took great pleasure in her supposed misfortune.

"And I see you've got the up-most attention of the Ayumi populace, Takiya." This caused said female to blush brightly and scowl in Kagome's direction as the male laughed and wrapped an arm around the embarrassed female comfortingly.

"I should hope so. Well then, shall we be off? You were going to visit your friends today, correct?" Ayumi gave a nod to the boy's question.

"Kagome won't be joining us, she has thing's to do." The girl's exchanged knowing smiles then. "I'll let them know you said hi though. Have fun cleaning!" Kagome waved the couple off as they turned in the opposite direction from where her shrine was.

Keiko had been released from school, carrying her only briefcase and the thoughts of her class project on her mind. Had she not known that demon's truly existed and what-not, she probably would've thought of the project as something silly the teacher's were coming up with at the last minute. But she couldn't help but wonder if this story was more than just the myth it was carried out to be in the Human World. She would have to ask the other's about it later, when they met up at Genkai's shrine for the rest of the Saturday evening.

"Keiko! Are you ready to go?" A supposedly young woman jumped down from her perch on a bench that was placed outside the school gates. Her bright blue hair bounced behind her from the high ponytail it was pulled up into and her bubblegum pink eyes danced with excitement. It had been awhile since the group had gotten together and just enjoyed an evening talking.

Keiko smiled in amusement and stopped in front of the older female; "Good afternoon, Botan. I'm ready when you are."

"Of course you are!" Botan linked arms with the brunette and pulled her along to the nearest train station. "It's been so long since I've seen everyone, Lord Koenma has been working everyone overtime back in the Spirit World." She gave a huff of annoyance. "With the kekkai barrier down and Lord Enma under scrutiny for all those corrupt cases, its a jolly ole' mess in the Reikei right now. Not to mention the Makai, Yusuke's tournament has blown everything out of proportion. That boy- he has a thing for attracting and or stirring up trouble. How do you put up with him?"

Keiko laughed lightly and shook her head in agreement. "Control, Botan. You just need to know how to control him." She had known Yusuke longer than anyone, they grew up together. Perhaps that was the reason why she saw Yusuke in a light that no one else saw him in. "Yusuke is indeed a magnet for trouble, but could we have it any other way?"

Botan seemed to actually think this over, turning back to Keiko a moment later and smiling brightly. "Of course not, that's just a downright scary thought."

The two shared a laugh as they stepped onto the train and took their seats, thing's suddenly looking brighter in their day.

"Grandpa! Would you please put that away? It's disgusting!" Kagome turned away from the jar her Grandfather was holding up with pride. She wasn't sure what the thing was, it looking much like thousands of frog eggs collected into the faded glass jar, O-fuda's stuck randomly(or so she assumed) to it. She had chosen the wrong moment to enter the storage shed her Grandpa had taken upon himself to clean. If anyone else were to clean it, nothing would be left inside. "It's probably fake anyway." She grabbed the broom from the corner and quickly made her way out of the barely lit shed, ignoring the yells of "disrespectful grand-daughter" coming from her grandfather who attempted to convince her otherwise.

Actually, she was positive it was fake. A majority of the items held at their shrine had no spiritual energy emitting from them. Not saying that there wasn't any, some items held a strange power, but nothing threatening or that could be used against them.

She had indeed spent most of her afternoon cleaning the shrine with her family. Her mother had excused herself earlier to get dinner started for them, and her grandpa and she were the only one's still cleaning. Souta hadn't done anything, keeping himself entertained by kicking his soccer ball around the shrine and barely listening to the story's their grandfather gave for each item he found in that small shed.

Kagome stopped sweeping as she came upon an unfamiliar face on the shrine grounds. Sure, the shrine was open to the public, but it didn't seize to surprise her when someone actually did visit. Especially someone of his age, for he couldn't have been any older then she was. He wore a black school uniform, though she couldn't recognize which school it came from... a lot of the school's had the boy's wear black. Perhaps the visit was for a school assignment? Though she couldn't imagine anyone ever going out of the way to visit place's outside the school library for research.

As if feeling her eyes on his back, the young man slowly turned his head to look back at her. Their eyes locked for what seemed like an eternity before he abruptly turned away and walked to the exit of the shrine, disappearing down the stairs before she had a chance to even process what had just happened.

"That face..." Kagome dropped the broom and made a mad dash for the stairs he had gone down a few moments prior. Stopping at the stop, her eyes saw nothing... as if he had never been there to begin with. There was no doubt about it though, she had seen him and recognized him the moment he had turned around to look at her. "Kohaku...?"

End Chapter