PROLOGUE

Kagome knew that she was unfortunate. She realized that the very moment she was thrown back several decades in time after she fell down a veil, where she almost got devoured by a demon, shattered the Shikon no Tama and was then forced on a never- ending journey with a Hanyou who had no idea how to treat a woman.

So, yes, if you asked her, her life was full of misfortune and tragedy.

But what she did not perceive, what her mind failed to realize, was that it could have been a lot worse.

One moment, she could have been wrapped in her bed roll, like always, trying to ignore Inuyasha's watchful gaze- and the next, she could have woken up, lost in a strange world, with nothing but her clothing on her body.

But, of course, she only understood the graveness of her misfortune when she faced it head-on.

And, without having to go into further detail, that is how it happened. How Kagome misplaced herself.

That day nothing unusual transpired. They went hunting for shards, Miroku asked another poor maiden to father his child and Sango reacted accordingly, planting her hand-print on the left side of his cheek, stomping away.

"I do not understand why she is so angry." Kagome remembered Miroku saying and shook her head as she slid from Inuyasha's back.

"Well, if you do not know which actions wronged her, then you will never realize your mistake." is what she remembered answering. But it had took place ages ago that till this day Kagome still pondered about her response.

She might have remembered it that way, but she knew herself too well. At the age of seventeen, she was quite petulant. A child, really. A child that enjoyed life, that, no matter how dark it might have gotten, would not be deprived of her light.

"Feh, you deserve it." Inuyasha had shook his head and his ears had flickered in that adorable way. Kagome remembered flushing and biting her lip, fighting the urge to pinch his cheek.

She really did love him then. He had been- and will always be her first love. It was easy to fall. He was wild, like a warrior, impetuous, like a child and beautiful like every other maiden. But at that time she still had to perceive true beauty. Had yet to see those pointy-eared men with their inhumane grace. Truly, at that time, she knew nothing.

"You are one to talk." Shippo had interrupted, jumping on Kagome's shoulder, hiding behind her hair, to be sheltered from Inuyasha's temper when the time came. His eyes were narrowed and shone with mischief. "You always anger Kaa-san with your stupidness!"

"What did you say, you furball!"

"Kaa-san!"

"Come here, so I can skin your fur and sell it to the next merchant!"

A squeal of dismay.

"No!"

"Inuyasha."

It was silent then.

"Sit."


"Miroku is infuriating!" Sango had told her as they entered their room at the inn they rested at. Her cheeks were red, maybe it was because of her anger, maybe because of her feelings. Kagome always had a hard time to read Sango.

She was a warrior. She knew how to hide behind a mask.

"Well, that is Miroku." Kagome shook her head once again. "The first time I met him, he groped me."

Sango's fury intensified. Kagome sheepishly smiled and tried to reduce her anger with her next words.

"Don't worry. I slapped him for both of us."

It did seem to help, but yet, there still appeared to be something weighing her down. Kagome did not ask. She knew Sango would tell her soon. After all, they were friends. And Kagome was a good listener. Every since she was a child, she loved hearing her grandfather's stories. She might have pretended to dislike them later in time. But that was mostly her embarrassment speaking. And her grandfather often did repeat the same story without realizing.

Kagome prepared her futon while Sango sat at the window, contemplating. Just as she shook her pillow a second time, a bit uncomfortable with the silence, Sango's tongue loosened.

"D-did he-" she stopped, inhaling. "D-did he also tell you to father his child?"

Kagome blinked, caught off-guard. Sango noticed and quickly looked away, thinking she had hid her flushed cheeks as she turned away, but Kagome noticed. Her eyes softened.

"He did." She noticed how Sango stiffened.

"What did you say?"

Kagome laughed as she changed into her kimono. Sango was indeed adorable.

"You already know."

Her shoulders relaxed and she turned around, cheeks still slightly flushed. But Kagome did not notice. She was struggling to tie her Obi and only reluctantly turned around when Sango offered help, causing her friend to chuckle and tease her. Kagome huffed in false anger and bloated her cheeks. It was childish, but it was all in good will.(While that may have been the truth, only people close to her found out later about her inability to tie after too many glasses of wine. She had explained that it was her pride speaking. And that this peticular moment was not the only one she scratched out of her tale.)

As Sango was fixing her Obi, she couldn't help but ulitmately share her worries.

"He didn't ask me."

Kagome looked up at her, raising a brow in question.

"He didn't ask me to father his children."

Kagome blinked. And blinked again. She was suprised. While it may have been obvious for many that Sango held Miroku dear in her heart, she had never once voiced her feelings. Hearing her doubts, only made it even more real. And reminded her of her own, unrequited love.

"I know this sounds stupid." Sango finished tying her Obi and sat onto her futon, avoiding Kagome's gaze, as she looked out of the window. " But it bothers me. It feels like he doesn't see me as a woman. I mean, am I not desireable?"

"What foolishness are you talking about? Of course, you are!"

"But then, why isn't he asking me?" Sango asked, frustrated and humiliated. At that moment, Kagome realized Sango's feelings ran deep. This was no longer mere infatuation, no matter how often Sango might try to deny it.

"He cares for you."she tried again.

"As a friend?"

Kagome pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. As she eyed her friend, she pondered if it would be right to tell her the truth or if it was not her tale to tell. Kagome knew Miroku loved Sango, and that it was love on both sides. It was not like Inuyasha and Kagome. He only loved her appearance not her character. Everything she did, reminded him of his former lover. Kagome did not have a place in his heart.

In the end, after a long silence, she choose to be quiet . (Something she would soon deeply regret.)

Sango had pursed her lips at her friend's response and shook her head in anger.

"Let's go to sleep."

Kagome didn't had it in her to disagree and scrambled into her futon.

As she closed her eyes, trying to ignore her fuming friend, Kagome felt as if Inuyasha was watching her. She smiled and opened her eyes for a second, seeing nothing but darkness and shook her head. ( To be truthfull, it was not Kagome's imagination speaking. Inuyasha had really been looking at her from the tree, outside the cot. He had been on a night-watch. And he was worried at that point in time. But she would never know.)

"Goodnight." she remembered whispering and receiving a reluctant 'goodnight' after a few seconds of silence.

Kagome smiled and let herself be swept away.


So this is the prologue. Do you like it? Just to inform you, this will not be a tenth-walker story. Sorry :) And just asking but whom do you like more- Glorfindel or Elrond? I definitely seem to like Glorfindel lately. You should read 'An Angel's Heaven' from SimplySupreme. It manages to catch his character very well. But still, we need more Elrond ;)