Please be kind, criticism is welcome - serious, ego-damaging flames are NOT. This isn't my first fanfiction nor do I think will this be my last.

Note:

I do not have a beta-reader - if you would be as so kind to offer one to me or become my beta-reader... please do so.

Yes, this is a Kagome-Just-came-Back-From-The-Feudal-Era-Fic

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha nor Eyeshield 21 - or else both respective mangas would have their mangaka as well as artist listed as Stranezze but... it isn't. Both Rumiko Takashi and Yusuke Murata are geniuses in the sense that they came up with the ideas for these mangas before me...

Prologue - Escaping the Past

The students sitting near the door happened to hear snippets of the conversation between Hiranako-san and Shizuka-sensei, thus the rumors had began to intensify and buzz to life.

"—but Hiranako-san—"

"Umiko." They heard Hiranako-san—their principal, headmaster—whatever. "We don't really have a choice; she'll be a student—your student, as of next week."

A collective gasp gave away their not–so–subtle eavesdropping towards their teachers, which, by the way, earned them an hour–long lecture about "respecting your elders" and how "eavesdropping is disrespectful and impolite."

But of course, the news spread like wildfire throughout Teikoku Gakuen. After all, it'd only been a month since school started - a transfer student so early in the school year was rather odd.

Of course, because it was a she, the girls' imagination was running wild…

"Maybe she's a transfer student from America—"

"Ugh! That sucks—!"

"—I know right! Tall, blonde, blue eyes and curvy—!"

"And she probably knows all about Amefuto—!"

On this day, a particular quartet of girls wailed and moaned over the new student. Transfer students were usually received in the middle of the year and not in the beginning—especially after only a month of the school year.

"—She's probably rich and snobby—"

"Sumimasen." The short brunette was cut off by a petite noirette with brilliant blue eyes. They all paused to stare unabashedly at the girl with the soft voice. "Sumimasen, for interrupting your conversation but can you point me towards the office?"

They nodded numbly, their eyes never leaving her face, and pointed—rather, flung their arms in the direction of the temple-like structure within the coliseum carbon copy that served as their office.

The small girl offered them a dazzling smile akin to the sun before gracefully passing them.

"Wow."

"She's gorgeous."

"And curvy."

"Her eyes—!"

"Probably half-Japanese."

"But her smile though—"

"Do you think she whitens her teeth?" The quartette quieted in thought. "Probably."

Koizumi Karin was a pretty girl—petite with feminine features and assets and eye-catching golden locks and warm brown eyes, she was definitely "pretty." But she was undoubtedly shy and modest. She was soft spoken and tended to blush and stutter whenever she spoke and because of that she was deemed "too cute" and unfortunately was either ignored or laughed at.

So when she heard some girls in her class talking horribly about the new student, she of course wanted to stop their horrible predictions.

"She's probably slutty and rich, ya know? I mean she probably bribed the school to let her in—"

"Eto, Misame-san—" Karin was cut off by the angry rant coming from Misame.

"—I mean, we worked really hard to get into Teikoku and she just gets in? What the Hell?! She probably didn't even take the entrance exam—probably stupid—"

"I don't think—" Karin tried again.

"If she thinks she can come here and think she freakin owns the place—she has another thing coming—"

"Who has another thing coming?" A soft, gentle voice asked. The class was mostly empty save for a few early birds and those who had club activities in the morning—Karin included—blinked in surprise and turned towards the voice.

Standing in the door way was a girl whom they'd never seen before and their principal. The girl's head brushed the tip of the greying principal's nose. She was pretty. Very pretty. And undoubtedly the new student.

"Higurashi-san," Hiranako-san placed a hand on the girl's shoulder, "This is your class—I hope you settle in well." With that Hiranako-san disappeared from view, the distinctive tapping of his loafers against the floor echoing back to their class.

For the first moment, they stared at her. Examining her.

Surprisingly, she let them, her own eyes flickering over her…classmates appearances. They all looked so different from her classmates since grade school. She then offered them a warm smile. "My name is Higurashi Kagome." She bowed her head politely, "Please take care of me."

"Er—I'm Mitoko Misame," Misame blinked furiously, striding towards Kagome—almost tripping over her own feet. "And for who has it coming…I…uh, meant that for you but…"

Kagome laughed, a bright smile on her face, shocking the audience around them. "It's alright, I get it; I'm the new student and it being so early in the year…" Kagome let her sentence trail off, her sentence self-explanatory.

"Eto…Gomen ne…"

Karin had one thought after Kagome smiled and insisted there was nothing to be sorry about. There's no way that someone can be that nice. But Kagome just smile and laughed off Misame's apologies.

"Ah, you must be Higurashi Kagome-san," Shizuka-sensei entered the full classroom, her eyes landing on an unfamiliar face; the new student no doubt, "Pleasure to meet you."

"Pleasure is mine, Sensei." Kagome replied politely with a smile—the kind of polite smile you give to acquaintances.

Shizuka smile in return, "Seeing as you've already taken a seat,"—Shizuka gestures to the window seat Kagome had claimed surrounded by her smiling peers—"I can start class." Again, Karin watched the newest addition to their class expertly make another friend—effortlessly and easily. The blonde couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealously; Kagome was already making herself the popular girl within an hour of arriving.

Karin sighed in resignation as the lesson began; it was impossible not to be entranced by the girl. She wasn't fake; her smiles, laughs and expressions were real and captivating. A single look and people would find themselves gravitating towards Kagome's smiling face—herself [Karin] included.

Kagome seemed like a real-life Mary Sue…

"Kagome-san,"—the girl had insisted everyone call her by her given name rather than her family name—"were you here all of Lunch Hour?" Karin couldn't quite grasp her own question, seeing as she's heard—from all the way down the hall—her classmates inviting her to eat lunch with their friends [read: cliques].

"Hm?" Kagome hummed, glancing upwards and offering the blonde a small smile, "Oh, hai." At Karin's surprised expression she let out a airy laugh, "I'm…what is to say, studying…" Karin realized what was splayed out in front of the girl was a math textbook and not her bento. "But don't worry, Karin-chan!" Kagome offered the blonde a incredibly bright smile—but that wasn't what had Karin reeling but rather the fact Kagome had even remembered her name [seeing as Misame and had just jabbed a thumb in her direction and introduced her]. "I ate something."

"Ah, hai…" Karin fidgeted in the doorway, waiting for the bell's shrill ringing to fill the awkward silence. But when that didn't happen, Karin could only realize the horror of starting a conversation… "Ah, K-Kagome-san—" "Kagome-chan." "—er, Kagome-chan," the honorific left a strange taste in her mouth, "H-H-Have y-you d-decided on a c-club to j-join?" She silently cursed her habit of stuttering.

"Ie," Kagome replied smoothly, eyes flitting from the textbook for a second. "Are you in any clubs or committees?"

Karin nodded her head shyly, a blush on her cheeks as Kagome gave her full attention. "And?" Karin breathed in deeply, "I-I-I'm in the A-Art C-Club."

Kagome cocked her head to the side, as if in thought. Karin averted her eyes and focused on everything other than the blue-eyed girl. "Can I join?" Karin blinked. What had Kagome said? "Can I join?" Amusement laced the other girl's voice. Had she said that out loud? "You're thinking out loud, Karin-chan."

Karin bit her lip and ducked her head in embarrassment. "S-Sure…"

Kagome's beaming expression had Karin turning a deeper shade of red.

Karin almost suffocated as her senpai continued her choke hold squealing. "A-A-Asako-senpai…" Karin wheezed as the older, lilac-haired girl continued to squeeze the life out of her. Mochida Asako with her vibrant hair only hugged Karin tighter and squealed in delight and approval.

"Karin-chan, you're so reliable!" The third year squealed in delight, "Bringing the new student here—! Oh! This will make great strides for the Art Club!" All the while Karin was being suffocated slowly Kagome had taken her time to examine the Art Club's room. It was large with rows of tiered desks—carved with Roman and Greek designs—and large floor to ceiling cabinets on the wall next to the door. Across from that, at the back of the room—and behind the desks—were large windows, the sun dampened by soft blinds.

Kagome smiled. The room seemed dedicated to Art as its members whom sat at the desks working on their own pieces quietly—within their own world. Dedicated. That was the word that came to mind when Kagome observed them.

She turned to look at the President of the Club, only to find herself feeling awkward watching the situation she was in. The President seemed as eccentric as Shizuka-sensei. "Ah, Asako-senpai…"

"Yes! That's me!" The lilac haired third year rushed to Kagome's side, dropping Karin in the process.

Fortunately, the girl was able to breathe again—showcased by the huge, gasping breaths she was inhaling. Unfortunately, Karin had been dropped face first and would undoubtedly have a bump later on. "Itai…" the blonde murmured, rubbing her hands over her face gently, wincing when she touched her forehead. "Ita-ta-ta…" She chanted quietly.

Karin whined slightly but was ignored by her abusive senpai in favour of Kagomd.

Asako had no given Kagome her full attention. "What is the Art Club's goal?" Asako blinked at the question, genuinely surprised. Kagome watched as the girl's bubbly expression was schooled into a serious one.

"In the Art Club our goal is simple—to express ourselves." Asako paused, "Of course, it hasn't always been like that but it has under my rule." She sounds like some kind of dictator, Kagome thought idly. "Art is silent song—a silent language, filled with thousands of inexpressible words that cannot be heard but speaks volumes—! Art is—"

"Asako-senpai," Kagome interrupted. "I simply asked for the goal, not the entire philosophy surrounding Art—visual or otherwise—and I really appreciate your dedication but I've trying to tell you for the past five minutes is that I want to join."

"Great!" Asako beamed, reverting to her former, eccentric and bubbly self. "Since it's almost the end of individual activities I'll just introduce you everyone and we'll get started!"

Asako was positively overjoyed with Kagome's joining—she was practically bouncing off the walls as she celebrated. Kagome only shook her head and walked over to Karin. The blonde was leaning against the wall, holding her head in her hand and looking rather dizzy.

"Ne, Karin-chan... Are you alright?"

"…I-I'm f-fine," Karin mumbled.

Kagome snapped her fingers beside Karin's ears. The blonde jumped slightly, "K-Kagome-chan?"

"Are your ears ringing?" Karin shook her head, Kagome only asked, "How many fingers am I holding up?" holding up her pointer and pinky fingers.

"Two."

"Are you dizzy? Do you feel nauseous?"

"Ie," Karin replied softly, "Ano…W-Why're y-you asking t-these questions…?"

"Checking to see if you have a concussion," Kagome answered curtly, straightening.

Karin blinked in surprise. Karin was about to ask her more but was interrupted by Asako yelling for Kagome to stand beside her so she could introduce her to everyone. Then, as if an afterthought, Asako told her to: "Move your ass, Higurashi, I don't have all day!" showcasing the President's bipolar personality effortlessly.

Karin held back a look of surprise at the pure joy that sprouted across Kagome's face at the demand. Most people would've been miffed or offended yet Kagome just took it all in stride…

She really is a Mary Sue…

At this point, with her magical smile, medical skills, charisma and looks, Karin wouldn't be surprised if she was some kind of superhero attempting to live a civilian life after a traumatic event that left her scarred…

In the back of her head, Karin idly questioned when she became so morbid and pessimistic…

Karin glanced nervously at the girl beside her. "N-Ne, Kagome-chan, d-did you enjoy y-yourself?"

Kagome hummed in response, "Although Asako-senpai's mood swings were a tad difficult to deal with?" A tad? Karin echoed in her mind, Asako'senpai's mood swings are impossible to deal with…

Kagome paused and Karin halted at the same time. Following Kagome's eyes, she watched as the school's pride and joy practiced. "The Amefuto team, right?" Karin questioned, not at all familiar with the sport.

"Mhmm," Kagome nodded her head. "They're really dedicated aren't they…?" Kagome seemed dazed, and Karin bit her lip to keep from answering, she seemed like she was talking to herself. "It brings back memories…" Karin blinked as Kagome continued to murmur to herself. "I wonder how Take-kun is doing…"

Take-kun?

Karin eyed the transferee as she continued to watch the field with a sidelong glance, even when a booming voice thundered over it demanding for everyone to clean up and that practice was over.

Deft fingers toyed with the ends of inky black hair. The soft strands curling around a thinly-scared finger. A soft breeze filled the air with the scent of cherry blossoms, nearing the end of their bloom. The smooth, rhythmic footsteps against the paved walkway a normality as students mingled and talked to one another; completely carefree now that it was after school hours.

Having departed from Karin a moment or two earlier, Kagome was now heading towards the student dorms. Moving with a practiced grace, Kagome manoeuvred through thinning crowd at Teikoku, shifting only slightly to eliminate any bumps; her shoulder-length hair swaying with each small movement. Her eyes slipped closed and a content smile tilted her lips –

A booming laugh and a muffled curse her only warning as she flattened herself against the wall, two upperclassmen rushing through – one, with a broad smile, the other, fuming; his shaved head reddening.

"Haha, they're rather energetic today," Kagome glanced upwards at the unusually tall male standing not far off from her, his eye glowing as he watched the upperclassmen turn a corner sharply, the angry one spewing out threats. His eyes shifted to her, "Are you okay?"

Kagome took in his appearance – noticing the pin on his collar that indicated his status as a first year – his wild, curly brown hair and eyes, just a shade of brown darker. "Hai," she answered, slipping of the wall.

"Those were good reflexes," he commented as she walked past him. Kagome paused, her eyes falling to his broad grin. He gave her a closed-eyed smile, "Maa, no need to be so defensive, ne?"

Kagome continued her walk to her locker. "I wouldn't call them reflexes," she said with a light laugh, voice light and airy. "I doubt that anyone didn't hear that."

She heard his laugh fading and his footsteps growing fainter as he walked away. A smile curled her lips slightly, "Maa, bad memory as always." Kagome mused quietly to herself, her locker clunking shut as she slipped her outdoor shoes over her heels.

She had noticed the light sheen of sweat over the boy's features. "And he's still rather sporty." A smile curved her lips as she disappeared from the room – her smile unnaturally bright.

Glacier blue eyes fell shut, a memory playing behind the raven haired girl's eyelids.

"Take-kun!" a childish peel of laughter filtered through the warm, spring air. Smiles littered the parents' faces as they watched the two children run around. "Slow down!" a young girl called.

Her hair, the exact shade of black ink, was pulled into two bouncy pigtails at the sides of her head – just above her ears, her blue eyes shining as a bright laugh escaped her. Her arms were outstretched and her chubby, childish fingers grasped at open air as she continued to chase the boy so much taller than her.

Brown hair curled wildly on the boy's head like a crown of curls. A blinding smile on the boy's sun-kissed face – tanned from hours upon hours of outdoor play. "Haha, catch me if you can, Koneko-chan!" he called back, increasing his pace and earning himself a giggle from his playmate.

Despite being the same age, the girl only stood at his shoulder, which amused him to no end. And with her shy, soft-spoken demeanor, he'd dubbed her his, "Koneko-chan."

"I got – " the girl declared only to slip and fall. "Uwah!"

Take-kun, as Koneko-chan so enduringly called him, paused worriedly and ran back towards the girl. A man stepped forward, almost an exact twin of the girl if not for the age difference, his handsome, youthful face marred by a worried frown – only to turn upwards in a smile as his daughter launched herself at the boy.

"Koneko – " Take-kun whined as he fell.

Bright laughter filled the air again.

Blue eyes revealed themselves from behind milky eyelids. A soft smile fought its way to the girl's twitching lips and Kagome found herself looking at the sky. A stray ray of sunlight caught a silvery glimmer on the girl's cheek.

"It seems no matter where I am... I cannot run away from the past..."

A/N:

I originally wanted to do this in a non-existant Feudal Era A.U but after months of serious contemplation and ridiculous theories... I decided on this! In this story, the Feudal Era Adventure did exist! You CANNOT remove such a significant part of Kagome's life without some kind of super solid, earthquake-proof back story.