Unseen Returns

Chapter 1

It was frightening, she didn't know how else to explain this drastic change in circumstances that now have her fleeing through the forest. She had come back to the Feudal Era and everything was going great. It felt so right and she had been so happy, they were all getting their happily ever after and then… it all wavered like ripples in the surface of calm water. Things just started happening.

On a warm breezy day, she had watched with an equally warm heart as the kids played with the kites that she made for them with InuYasha's help. It helped to distract her from the upcoming reality check. InuYasha relaxed in a tree behind her, content with this more relaxed life. Yes, she does still want adventure but she is also just happy right now to see the others doing so well and living their lives, getting adjusted all over again after leaving the more luxurious life of the modern era. It was all going to change shortly, she just hadn't been aware.

"Kagome, something on your mind," Sango asked her as she held her youngest, their only son.

Biting her lip as she reflected on the thoughts she was pulled from later on in the evening she really was not sure if she wants to come to this admittance. Her and InuYasha are as usual, drawing things out, neither really willing to be forthcoming and rather just pretend. "I'm not real sure I guess," I finally admitted with a sigh while leaning against a fence, watching the sunset with this woman who has come to mean so much to me, like a dear sister.

Receiving an understanding and yet knowing look accompanied by a sad smile, it was now clear that Sango already knows what they had tried to hide. "Sometimes it is best to let things run their course. It could be worse; things always have the possibility to be worse. You're coming out of this as best friends, I think that is something worth recognition."

She is right and I know it, they are still great friends and that will likely never change. They have been through thick and thin together. "To think I had missed everyone, missed him so much that I finally was able to come back and yet here we are. I do miss my family but part of me just feels I belong here, that this era is where I truly belong and am needed."

"I'm glad you can at least get this far without any further turmoil. It would have been nice to see you two happily married but it shouldn't be forced, after all you were gone for almost three years and that was enough time for things to change, for your feelings to change right along with you both," Sango continued to comfort her, it wasn't harsh nor was it sugar coating, it was just exactly what she needed, the truth from a friend that understands to a degree. "Look at me, I married a lech and now we have three kids. He settled down in some ways, the ones that count the most and proved he would be nothing but honorable to me and our marriage," she quirked a grin thinking about the time she had attempted to spy on Miroku with Shippo's help. It had backfired in some ways and helped in others but now it is a humorous memory.

Giggling at her friend the girls, no women now, laughed together. Over three years of friendship, even if for a big gap of that they were separated, it never weakened the sisterly bond. It became a nice memory, a talk that had helped her to come to terms and content to trying to force something that just isn't meant to be.

Now terror has struck their hearts. Everything had been going well even if it wasn't what they had hoped it would be it was better than this. 'Who can save us, who is going to be able to help us,' she struggled to think because as it is they have been divided, completely separated once again which weakened them. No one could conquer it all, every time they thought they might gain the upper hand another would come to tip the scale back in the other direction.

"Sesshoumaru watch out," she screamed from where she clutched an arrow, her broken bow laying down at her feet while she wished she could do more than watch out for the others and use a mere shout. Without her bow she is of no use in defending them from the distance. He thankfully dodged the strike at his blindside but they were all becoming overwhelmed, defeat seemed imminent.

Darkness, it is all darkness and they have little to do but run and be on guard at all times. Eventually if something doesn't happen they will finally break under the pressure, cracks are already forming… 'This can't be happening! I just want to wake up from this nightmare!'

Still making a mad dash through the forest she could hear the destruction behind her as he toyed with her. If not for the fact they wanted to play with their prey she likely could have already been done in or whatever they planned to achieve with her, she never knows when it comes the enemy, males in general. Any female enemy had always just wanted her dead but guys… it could really be a multitude of things. She should have done more than just relax and think life from there on out would be almost like a reflection of a fairy tale.

She had been wrong, sorely wrong.

Underestimating the Feudal Era and the chance for evil had been her first and greatest mistake. She knows plenty about healing, child birth, and numerous other things but this all was over her head, she should have trained harder, been smarter, and thought ahead. It is barely any use to reflect on her mistakes other than to learn from them should she live through this but at this point she has her doubts and when she has allies as strong as hers you wouldn't think she would have such doubts but they are firmly there. Every day was truly a fight to survive, the days of collecting jewel shards had nothing on this…

"Don't give in now priestess, I can smell your doubt, smell that you know it is futile but I still want to enjoy this chase," he smugly called out to her from where he swung his sword and took down more trees, the thumping of these ancient trees falling to the ground, crack and breaking, sometimes taking down others that are weaker while on their way down. The ground vibrated with the force of each one giving her more adrenaline with the constantly present fear.

Something needed to happen. She stumbled, limbs weary as she could only pray it would either be a swift death or maybe they would get bored of her when she finally collapsed and decide to play again later. Tears pricked at her eyes as she now ran blindly with no real clear direction of where she is going, unsure if the others are anywhere near her but then rescue came in the form of two streaks suddenly going past her, coming from the sky and with the relief she felt her body finally give up with the hope of this rescue.

Sesshoumaru was the first to clash with him but InuYasha was at the ready, growling with markings on his face as he now constantly remains at basically a three-fourths demon state with his fear and taxed body. "You came," she almost sobbed in relief that they managed to find her.

"We would never let these pricks get you so long as we are around," InuYasha gruffly replied, anger always present but he glanced over her with a look of relief, relief that they had made it and she isn't seriously harmed.

You could say the battles of the past have yet to end because now… their once defeated and dead enemies are back and rather than fight individually, they strike as an alliance, one she doubts is strong. Their goal is to take them all down, the ones who are the biggest threat to them. She had basically failed in her duty, she had thought she had ended all of this agony with the defeat of the jewel but a sliver of Magatsuhi was in Naraku and influenced him to make a wish she had been unaware of. It took time for it to all come to pass, it let them fall into a fall sense of security with the lands becoming so peaceful and they had been fools to think it had truly been over. They just have no idea as to what all they have cooked up.

In the foreboding atmosphere of a dense bamboo forest a couple men chuckled as they stood at a grave. "If we succeed…" they smiled viciously. One narrowed his brown eyes, he wants nothing more than to cause this pain. He may very well be the one to hate the corpse below him the most. The demon beside him holds a grudge and could rival him in his hatred and that is understandable being half his face is missing.

Should they succeed it would be insult to injury, rubbing salt into a wound and stomping on the proud inus. If this is a success it is practically a guarantee that they will be the victors and send them to their graves in humiliating defeat. Already they have found ways to ward off their most dangerous attacks and here they are adding a new ace to their deck, the one that really takes the cake…