A/N: So I've been getting back into the swing of things, finally deciding that I was going to begin writing again. After all, I can't stay away from my most loved hobby for long. You see, what happened here was an accident. Stinkin little plot bunnies I tell you. What I meant to have happen with this was actually to rewrite the first chapter of Unimaginable, to make it match my writing style as it is now, from what it was then... And suddenly one thing led to another and well, another story was created! I'm not even upset about it either cause I needed to start writing a new story anyways! It's all thanks to me hating the way my old writing style was when I was 14.

Also, one other thing. I get a LOT of comments and messages about people not liking my characters. I'm glad you guys can express your feelings to me. And honestly it does help. But, the main thing is, stories, more so fanfictions, are meant to be writen because you like what you are writing. So, if my characters end up Mary-Sue, it's alright with me. I love writing and no matter how it comes out or seems to others, I enjoy it just the same. Writing is for my enjoyment, my release of my depression. So, if you don't want to read, that is alright, I won't be offended or upset. I just need something to pour all of my emotions, stress and sadness into!

Chapter 1: Lost and Found

Her sight was blurry, tinted red with anger. Her feet tripped and slipped on the many roots and rocks that lined her path. Tree limbs and bushes scrapped at her, tearing and ripping her clothes. Her surroundings weren't familiar the only thing she knew; Inuyasha was behind her and she had to escape him. She had to get away from him.

How could he, she thought angrily as she fought her way through the shrubbery, how could he do this to me?

She just couldn't understand what she could have possibly done to warrant Inuyasha hurting her like this. She had always stood by his side, helping him and protecting him whenever she could. She had almost given her life many times just to make sure he kept his. So why? Why would he do this? Tears filled her eyes blurring her vision beyond repair.

Her foot collided with a rock sending her sprawling onto the ground. A groan of pain left her lips and she found she had no strength to stand, no strength to continue on. Her hands fisted into the dirt as a sob of agony shook her body. The tears finally spilt down her face, dropping like rain onto the ground.

No, she wouldn't let this defeat her. She had fought in too many battles, saved so many people, and survived too many horrors. She couldn't let something like this destroy her, destroy her hope. She didn't need him. If he didn't want her, that was fine, she didn't need his permission to remain here to live how she wanted. She was her own person.

Forcing herself to her feet she dusted herself off before beginning her travels again, I'm Kagome Higurashi. I'm stronger then this! I can't let my emotions take control! I can overcome this! I know I can!

With her new found determination she forged forward, hoping that she was headed in the right direction. The heavy forest blocked her view of the sun, making it impossible to tell just what direction she was actually travelling in.

I can't believe I forgot my backpack, she grunted as she climbed over a fallen tree, if I had brought that I would have my compus and wouldn't have to play these guessing games.

"Are you lost, ningen," a soft feminine voice asked.

Kagome spun around trying to find where the voice had come from. Her heart raced quickly beneath her chest, pounding loudly in her ears. Fear filled her entire being when she realized just how much danger she could be in by being by herself. Her hand encircled the hard wood of her bow, preparing to fight if it came down to it.

"No need for that," the voice spoke again, "I won't harm you."

Her eyes landed on the only living creature around; a small blue-grey kitsune. It laid atop the fallen tree, it's tail wrapped around itself acting like a pillow for it's sleek snout. It's large ears up and alert. It's shockingly bright violet eyes trained upon her, watching her every move.

I'm hearing things, there is no way that voice is coming from that tiny kitsune. But, it's eyes, she swallowed hard trying to repress her nervousness, there is an intelligence in them that no ordinary animal has.

"You are wise for a ningen, picking up on me so quickly," the kitsune said, it's small jaws moving ever so slightly with the words.

"You aren't just an animal, you're a youkai," Kagome gasped, taking a step back.

The creature stood, stretching it's sleek body. Slowly it stalked toward her, staying on the fallen tree. It stopped in front of her, placing it's face centimetres away from her own.

"And you are a miko. You left my question unanswered, are you lost?"

"I," Kagome stuttered, "I... am."

The kitsune jumped from the tree, landing next to Kagome's feet. The small creature barely came up to mid-calf. It's fur was soft as it brushed against her legs. Another wave of fear coursed through Kagome. While the kitsune was small, it was a youkai and she couldn't forget that. Size in a youkai did not determine the strength of their power.

"What is your name?"

"My name," she paused briefly, "Kagome. Kagome Higurashi."

"Kagome," the kitsune nodded, "I'm Nishiko."

"Nishiko," Kagome couldn't stop her hands from shaking, "if you don't plan on hurting me, what is it you want with me?"

"You are a miko, are you not?"

"Well, yes, but..."

"I was cursed," the kitsune offered, "a miko cursed me to be stuck inside a small version of my true form. It has been many years and the curse has yet to pass. I seek help in returning to my ningen form, I grow tired of this body."

"What makes you think I can help," Kagome asked softly, "I'm not exactly trained."

"I will help you find your way, to whatever it is you seek, in exchange for a promise that you will at least attempt to help me with this curse."

"I don't even know where to start," she stammered.

"You can start by not fearing me," Nishiko commented, "the smell of your fear is strong and will attract other youkai. I can protect you, but in this form I can only do so much."

Kagome laughed nervously, rubbing the back on her neck, "right. Sorry."

"Tell me, Kagome. What is it you seek?"

"The village of Edo, do you know of it?"

"Yes," Nishiko began walking in it's direction, "it is the village just outside the forest of Inuyasha. It is said that after everything the hanyou had done to disrupt the village they still accepted him as an ally. I have never stepped foot inside the village itself, only the forest."

Kagome followed along, her teeth gritted together to control her anger at the hanyou. The emotions from earlier flared up bright inside her completely washing away her fear.

"If you are headed to Edo, you must be the miko that travels with him along with the taijiya and the monk. What made you travel alone if you claim to be untrained?"

"Inuyasha, he," Kagome stopped herself and shook her head, "I don't know if I can trust you yet. I won't tell you personal information until I know you truly mean me no harm."

Nishiko grinned, a soft growl like laugh emitted from her, "you aren't as foolishly trusting as you seem. Fair is fair. I will tell you all you wish to know. I am in need of your help and if that means I must reveal every secret of myself to gain your trust, I will do so."

"How come I didn't sense you? Every time a youkai or hanyou comes close I can sense their youki, but you, my miko senses say you are only just an ordinary animal," she couldn't help herself from asking the question that had been bugging her since she stumbled upon Nishiko.

"It's a skill," Nishiko offered the truth, "I am a kitsune and we are highly skilled in stealth. Youkai will not bother an ordinary kitsune unless they are starving or hunting. However, with as quick and as small as I am, often they find trying to catch me not worth their effort or the meat I would provide."

She must be miserable, stuck like that. Youkai would never take her seriously. She wouldn't be able to live a normal life that ningen bodied youkai did. It has to be lonely, hiding away from the world in order to survive.

"I never thought of that. It makes sense. Tell me, were you waiting for me, or was it just by chance that I stumbled across you," Kagome questioned curiously.

"I was sleeping," she admitted, "I woke up as you were climbing over the tree. I felt your foot hit my tail. I stayed still to keep from frightening you. I didn't notice right away that you were a miko. You wear such odd clothing."

She flushed, tugging on her ruined blue shirt. Her jeans hadn't faired much better, the denim torn and stained from her struggles through the forest. Her shoes, while dirty, were still in great condition.

"When I fully woke up, I caught a sense of your reiki. It was luck, I believe for both of us, that I chose that very spot to sleep and you chose that very spot to run to."

"Why were you cursed?"

Nishiko let out a breath of air that sounded something like a sigh, "I am the oldest daughter of Yuzuru. My father controlled most of the Western Area of the Northern lands. Unlike inus and ookamis, kitsunes don't often have packs, we just guard our lands and care for our kits. My father boasted that he was strong enough to care for his part of the lands without help from the Northern Lord, so the Northern Lord pulled his troops away from our lands, saying he would entrust us with it's care. Several months later a group of kitsunes attacked a village upon our lands.

"They did not know that those who harmed their people weren't apart of our family and they blamed us for their misfortune. It was me who got the blunt end of their anger. I was travelling like I normally did every summer. Usually when I walked through this certain village they never gave me any trouble, never even took a second look my way.

"It was a surprise when I ended up surrounded by ningens all bent on taking their revenge for something I didn't commit. The miko calmed them down and told them that for what happened I deserved a fate worse then death. That is when she placed this curse on me. I ran home and told my father of what happened and he went to the village demanding they explain themselves.

"He was able to figure everything out and get the village settled down but at the cost of the miko's life. I have been unable to find a miko since that would willingly walk in the presences of a youkai, much less aid them."

"How did you know that I wouldn't just purify you once you let me know you were there," Kagome watched the youkai carefully as she picked her way through the roughly made trail.

"You do not wear the robes of a miko. Upon you are clothes I have never before seen, that gave me hope that you might not hold the standards that mikos generally do. To know that you travel with a hanyou, further gave me faith that you will not purify me without reason."

"So, it was an accident that you were cursed like this? What happened to your family?"

"My family has long since passed. I am over seven hundred summers old. I had planned to take over my families lands when they passed away, but I was unable to do so and now someone else resides in my ancestral home proclaiming my lands for their own. After all, I have been gone for nearly three hundred summers and no one knows that I am still alive and believes that my family line no longer exists."

"Three hundred years," Kagome gasped, "you have been stuck like that for three hundred years? All alone?"

"Do not pity me," Nishiko's voice was soft, "it was an experience to learn from. Now that I have learned my lesson I wish to return so I may claim my families land once more."

"I don't pity you," she shook her head, "I am amazed by you. I admire you. You have survived for so long, all alone. That takes strength. Something I could never do. I would be lost without my family or friends."

"I was the odd one in my family," her growling laughter rumbled from her tiny body, "I wanted to be a part of a pack and envied the inus and ookamis that always got to enjoy such a life style. I had just decided that I would leave my family's dwelling and find a place for myself when I was cursed. Even had I left and found my own place and started a pack, I would have inevitably returned home upon their death."

"Will you tell me more about yourself and your family," Kagome asked eagerly.

Nishiko nodded, "there is not much to say. I was born to two kitsune youkai. I was the oldest, followed by two younger siblings. My youngest sibling died shortly after she was born. My other sibling, my brother, he lived till about two hundred years old. He died in a fight to defend our lands. My mother grew ill with sadness and passed away shortly after. Losing two kits was hard on her and she couldn't handle the strain.

"My father continued on protecting our lands, alone. Eventually he challenged a youkai for land and found out too late that the youkai in question was far too strong for him."

"But what about you," she shook her head, "I want to know about you and what life was like for you."

"Me? I was born during the season of fall. When I was born I suffered from an unknown illness. I was weak, I couldn't move on my own and for many summers my parents feared I was becoming worse and would die. Eventually I gained strength and the illness passed. I trained hard to become strong, no longer wishing to burden my parents with a weak child.

"I trained every day, telling myself that if I did not, I would fall ill again and I wished never for that to happen. I went through the illusion training that all kitsunes go through. I started late and was picked on by the others for being so old and still having to be taught illusions that I should already know. I paid no heed to them, wishing only to prove to myself and my parents that I could do it. I could be normal, like every healthy born kitsune.

"At one hundred summers old my parents finally allowed me to travel outside of our lands. That is when I found a pack of inus. I watched them for several days, curious and interested in the way life worked when one lived in a pack. After watching them I realized that I too wanted to one day live in a pack.

"My mother found out of my wish to have a pack and she begged me not to leave. I was so sick for so many summers, she didn't want me to leave just in case the illness came back. Unable to deny my mother I stayed within our lands. I instead visited ningen villages and enjoyed the company I craved with creatures youkai were raised to avoid.

"My parents disapproved of my choice, but they refused to stop me if that meant I would stay within our boarders. Their only worry was me getting in trouble with a miko. I suppose in a way they had right to worry, didn't they?"

Kagome tried to stop her laughter, it wasn't funny that Nishiko was stuck in her true form, but it was ironic. Instantly she felt better when Nishiko began to chuckle. Even if the situation hadn't been ideal, she was happy that Nishiko could still find amusement in the irony.

"Thank you," Kagome smiled brightly at her new found friend, "thank you for letting me know you."

"You are welcome. It's my pleasure to be able to speak with someone. It has been far too long since I have had a conversation."

"You asked me why I was travelling alone earlier," Kagome sighed sadly, "truth is I was running away. I was upset, hurt and I was weak."

"It takes strength to admit weakness," Nishiko stated firmly.

"I just don't understand," she whispered hopelessly, "I don't get why. I've been nothing but a great friend to him. I've been there for him, standing by his side even when he hurt me countless times before. I just don't understand what made him make such a decision."

"Do not force yourself to speak on it if you aren't ready to."

She furiously rubbed at the tears gathering in her eyes, "he picked her. He brought Kikyo into our group. He never asked, he never even told us. He just showed up with her and told me I could go home. I... I told him that if he really wanted me gone, I would just take him up on his offer and go home. That's when I ran away. I wanted to go home, but I couldn't determine what direction I was running in.

"Even if I went home, I could never fully stay away. I love it here and I have so many friends. I can't believe I left and just left them there to deal with this on their own."

"You will return in due time," her voice sounded wise, matching her true age, "for now give yourself time to grieve over the lost chance at love. One day you will find the right man for you and in that day you will be proud that you became strong and endured all that you did during this time," she glanced over her shoulder, "besides he is a friend and so are the others that travel with you and they are worth it, don't you think?"

Kagome gaped at her, stopping in her tracks, "they are worth it. They are worth all that pain and more. They are like family to me and I love them."

"Then I will protect you and after you are finished at your home, will return you to them. You have my word," Nishiko turned continuing forward.

"You... you don't think I was foolish for running away," Kagome asked, afraid of what answer might come.

"If you had planned to never return, I would have thought you foolish, but even though it hurts you plan to return. You will become stronger and face your fears and sadness."

"Thank you," she laughed, "it's funny, just a few hours ago I was afraid of you and now, I've felt the need to thank you more then once."

"You do not need to thank me. You are doing me a favour, it is only right that I return such kindness."

"But what am I doing for you other then trying to find a way to break the curse? Is the cure to the curse really worth all the kindness you are showing me?"

Nishiko nodded eagerly, "it isn't only a promise to help try and cure my curse that you have given me. Just by you simply talking with me, putting your trust in me and treating me like an actual youkai has taken away my loneliness and that is something I will never be able to repay you for."

"Nishiko," Kagome's voice was full of emotion, "if we break the curse, promise you will remain my friend."

"Of course, Kagome."

"The village is close," Nishiko's voice drew Kagome from her thoughts.

"I'm sorry to say that you won't be able to actually come to my home with me," Kagome's voice was regretful, "but I'm sure Kaede wouldn't mind if you stayed with her while I am at home. I will only be gone for a day or two."

The kitsune chuckled, "reduced to the status of a household pet."

"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean anything by it I just didn't want you to be lonely," she stumbled over her words as she rushed to get them out.

"Worry not, I am not offended. I am glad that you would try your hardest to keep me from being lonely. Please, feel free to speak with Kaede and ask of her if I may sleep within her dwelling while you go see your family. I want to stay as close to Edo as possible so upon your return I may keep my word and take you to your friends."

As she finished her words the forest ended and the village laid out before them. They could easily see the villagers as they farmed their fields, carried their harvests and cleaned their homes. For being quite small, compared to most villages, it was lively filled with the sound of laughing children and adults talking. One figure stood out from the rest, she was older, much older, a patch covering her right eye and dressed in the traditional red and white garbs of a miko.

Kagome felt absolute happiness fill her heart at the proof before her, Nishiko was truly able to be trusted. In her glee she scooped up the startled kitsune, holding her tightly to her chest. Her face buried into the fur of Nishiko's neck.

"Thank you, thank you for bringing me home," Kagome murmured, "thank you, Nishiko."

She giggled when a small wet tongue suddenly licked her cheek, "you are welcome, Kagome."

The raven haired girl smiled brightly, cradling Nishiko in her arms like she would Kirara. The kitsune didn't seem to mind, cuddling up against her without resistance, her eyes ever forward watching those around her carefully.

"I will stop at nothing to protect you, Kagome," Nishiko spoke softly, "if any try to harm you, do not hold it against me for attack them to save you."

"Don't worry, these people won't, but I will keep that in mind when we travel."

"Hey Kagome!"

"Hi Kagome!"

"Welcome back!"

Villagers greeted her as she walked past. She waved back to each in turn, carefully making her way to Kaede. The elder miko stood patiently outside her hut waiting for her.

"Kaede-sama," Kagome smiled.

"Kagome, where is Inuyasha and the others," Kaede questioned calmly, "is it wise for ye to be alone?"

"I'm not alone, I have Nishiko with me," she lifted up the kitsune for the elder miko's inspection.

"A kitsune? Is it strong enough to protect ye," Kaede asked as she pushed into her hut.

Kagome followed her, taking a seat on a mat near the fire pit. Nishiko curled in her lap, her head lazily rested on Kagome's knee, watching the elder miko.

"I'm sure if we had gotten into trouble Nishiko could have protected us, but nothing bad happened and she lead me all the way here," Kagome ran her fingers though the kitsune's soft blue-grey fur.

"That is an ideal amount of intelligence from an ordinary kitsune."

"But she isn't an ordinary kitsune, she is a youkai," Kagome exclaimed.

Kaede prodded the skin behind one of Nishiko's ears, "I am getting no reading of youki, are ye sure, Kagome?"

"Could you be more gentle? Even if I was an ordinary kitsune you are poking awfully hard," Nishiko grunted.

The elder miko's eye widened, "so ye are a youkai then. Why are ye like this?"

"It was a curse," she yawned, stretching further on Kagome's lap enjoying the petting she was receiving.

"A miko cursed her, you wouldn't happen to know of any way to reverse it, would you Kaede-sama," Kagome asked.

Kaede shook her head, "I'm afraid I wouldn't know of any such thing. If a miko did curse her, they would have been a miko willing to dabble in the dark spells and curses. I only deal with healing. Ye will have to find a dark miko, or one that at least knows the ways. I am sorry I can not be of more help."

"That's okay, I didn't expect the answer to come so easily. I promised that once I come back from my house that I would try to find a cure for her. Do you think it would be okay if she stayed here while I'm at home?"

"I don't see why not. Ye will not cause problems, will ye," Kaede pinned Nishiko with a hard stare.

"If you wish me to stay out of sight, I will remain in the hut until Kagome's return, but no I will not cause problems."

"Ye do not need to confine yeself to this hut, as long as ye promise to be kind to the villagers."

"You have my word."

"Thank you, Kaede-sama. I will be back tomorrow or the day after," Kagome gently rubbed behind Nishiko's ears before setting her gently on the floor and leaving.

"Will she be fine to head out to her home by herself," Nishiko peeked her head out the door.

"She will be fine. Besides, Inuyasha will return here following her trail and he will make sure she is safe."

"I promised her my protection, if she were to get hurt after such a promise, I will not be able to forgive myself."

Kaede sighed, "do not worry to much, Kagome is strong."

Nishiko slid from the hut to explore the village. She would probably be spending a lot of time within this village since it was where Kagome's home was located and it would be best for her to get familiar with the place.

Inuyasha stood sniffing the air near a fallen tree. The sun was beginning to set, an indication that it had been hours since they had last seen Kagome. After she took off, the group had decided to sit and wait, hoping that Kagome would turn back and return to them. They never thought she wouldn't return. She was never this reckless with her life.

"Where could she have gone," Sango asked, "she wasn't even headed in the right direction."

"This is all your fault, Inuyasha! Kagome could be hurt or dead for all we know," Shippo yelled, throwing an acorn at the hanyou's head.

Inuyasha snarled, "I know! Don't you think I know! She said she had to return for school! She needed to go for a couple of weeks for exams! I was just trying to think of some way that she could go home!"

"Inuyasha," Miroku cut in, "don't you think you could have picked a better route then to bring Kikyo-sama with us? No offense, but it hasn't been easy on Kagome with you leaving us to see Kikyo-sama and now you brought her into the group without consulting us first?"

"I wasn't thinking," the guilt in his voice was thick, "I just wanted her to be happy that I was thinking about her first."

"I'm sure if she understood that, things wouldn't have been so bad," Miroku offered, "but, it still would have hurt her feelings."

Kikyo sighed, "I am only here to help find the shards for the time she is gone, not take her place."

"We know this," Sango insisted, "but, Kagome doesn't!"

"The way Inuyasha worded things, could have been better," Shippo nodded.

His ears flattened to his head and his shoulders drooped, Shippo is right. I really should have thought things out more. But, I got nervous and just spouted out the first thing I could think of. I didn't want her to know that I was trying to do something for her. Even if she knew that it still would have hurt her.

"Let's just find her, okay," Sango brought Inuyasha out of his self loathing.

He climbed over the tree and stopped, sniffing the air to see where Kagome had gone. Her scent trail started leading through the forest in the direction of the village.

"Her scent changed directions. She started heading towards Edo," Inuyasha glanced up looking at the trees, "but, how would she know? The sun isn't visible here and the forest is too dense to tell what direction is which."

"Maybe someone helped her? A ningen or a youkai perhaps," Kikyo offered, "it's not uncommon for people to walk these forests."

Inuyasha followed the trail, sniffing harder to try and find something that would explain Kagome's sudden change of direction. A slight breeze blew, bringing with it a scent he hadn't been able to pick up on before.

"A kitsune," Inuyasha drew in another breath, "I can smell a kitsune's scent mixing with Kagome's. But it's not a youkai, it's just a normal kitsune."

"Trust Kagome to wonder off following an animal to Kami knows where," Sango sighed.

Inuyasha quickly picked up Kikyo and took off tracking the scents. The remaining ningens and youkai climbed onto Kirara and chased after him. Hours passed before Inuyasha jumped, clearing the forest to land just at the outskirts of the village.

"Kagome's scent leads to the well, the kitsune is still within the village," Inuyasha stated as Kirara landed beside him.

Sango slid off the neko, "are you planning on looking for it?"

"Obviously it can talk," he stated, "otherwise Kagome never would have been able to find her way here."

"What if it was hurt," Shippo asked, "and Kagome picked it up and carried it here?"

"How would she know what direction to travel in all of a sudden," the hanyou demanded, "something had to have helped her!"

Kikyo hopped off of Inuyasha back calmly pointing at Kaede's hut, "why don't you ask the creature itself? It's there."

The group turned their head, catching sight of the blue-grey kitsune that was lounging in the fading sun upon the roof of Kaede's hut. Lazily it's bright violet eyes opened, turning it's knowing gaze upon them.

"That is no ordinary kitsune," Miroku stated clearly.

Inuyasha wasted no time, immediately jumping onto the roof next to the small vixen. Her head lifted to stare at him, unphased with his sudden action. The others approached quickly afraid that Inuyasha would hurt the small creature.

"Where is Kagome," Inuyasha demanded.

She gave him a blank stare annoyed he would ask such a question when he already knew the answer.

"I'm sorry for his rude behaviour," Miroku said softly, "but we are worried for our friend. Can you please tell us, was it you that guided her home?"

Nishiko jumped down, straight onto his shoulders, "yes, I brought Kagome here."

The monk below her froze, his muscles tensed as if he feared she would dig her claws into his skin, "was she okay?"

"She is healthy and well. She returned to her home and promises to be back tomorrow or the day after."

"Why," Kikyo asked, "did you help her?"

Nishiko's eyes landed on her, their bright depths shining with a look of understanding, "you do not trust me. You believe I am playing a trick upon Kagome. You believe a kitsune never does anything without a trick involved. I owe you no explanation to why I would help Kagome. That does not concern you all. What concerns you is that she is safe and sound, completely healthy besides for the several scratches she received from running recklessly through the forest."

She moved to jump down only to be pulled flush against a woman's chest covered in pink cloth. Her face buried in black hair, as the woman cradled her.

"Thank you," Sango whispered into her fur, "thank you for keeping Kagome safe."

"She had her own reasons," Inuyasha snarled jumping down from the hut, "you heard her! She was using Kagome!"

"So what," Shippo yelled, "at least she protected her and brought her home safe! So what if she asked for something in return! It's only fair!"

"Shippo has a point," Miroku stated, "Kagome was lost and needed a way home and obviously this kitsune needs something that only Kagome can give, it's a fair trade."

"Kagome wouldn't have been lost if it wasn't for you," Sango pointed out, "Kagome must have felt that whatever the kitsune asked for was worth giving in order to make it home safe. If it was something Kagome didn't feel comfortable doing she would have said no, and dealt with being lost."

"Stop ganging up on me," Inuyasha shouted angrily.

"I see ye have all met Nishiko," Kaede chuckled as she rounded the hut, "come why don't ye all make yeselves comfortable inside."

Nishiko jumped from Sango's arms, making her way to the hut. Kaede smiled down at her, which she returned with a loud happy growl. The group waited for a moment before following the two into the warm fire heated hut. Kaede sat at the head of the fire pit with Nishiko lounging across her lap like she had done with Kagome earlier.

"If she truly is a youkai, you must trust her well to allow her to have such liberties with your person," Kikyo stated as she took her seat.

"Nishiko is kind," Kaede smiled fondly at the canine, "she told me everything and allowed me to know her life. She explained to me everything that Kagome told her, about why Kagome was alone. If Kagome told her that much and her story is now confirmed to be true, Nishiko can be trusted."

"Kagome told you about what happened," Shippo asked, cautiously approaching the kitsune.

She lifted her head, licking his cheek in affection, "she told me everything that happened. She also promised to explain why she wears such weird clothes and where her home is when she returned."

"Nishiko-sama," Miroku drew her attention, "why are you in your true form, if I may ask."

"It's a curse, placed on me by a powerful miko. She has long since passed and done so before she could undo this curse that was given to me by accident. I bare the burden another kitsune should have been gifted with."

"If Kagome thinks that we are going to go out of our way to help you break that curse," Inuyasha hissed, "she has another thing coming."

"Shut up," Shippo snapped, "this is your fault any ways so if we have to help Nishiko, you are the one to blame!"

His ears drooped against his head once more as he sulked against the wall of the hut.

"I am not asking her to go out of her way," Nishiko commented, "I am merely asked that if the opportunity arises that she gives it a try. She has already given me more then I can return. Her kindness has been so great."

"That's Kagome for you," Sango laughed.

"So if she has helped you so much, why do you still wait around in hopes that she will help you further," Kikyo asked.

Nishiko sighed, laying her head down dejectedly, "before her, I hadn't been spoken to in two hundred summers. No ningen, no youkai would even approach me, thinking I was just an ordinary kitsune. I missed conversation, speaking with someone with an intelligent mind. It gave me hope and it gave me happiness.

"She promised to try and help me with my curse, to once again restore me to my ningen form after three hundred summers. I can not help but wish to be around others again. To be given another start to life. It is selfish for me to ask her to return me to my former appearance, but I can't let a chance like this slip away. How many more years would I have to wait for another chance like this?"

"Three hundred," Shippo whispered, "that's a long time."

"Yes, it has been a very long time."

"Lucky for you," Sango smiled softly, "you found one girl who will help you, no matter what. Kagome will spend the rest of her life looking for a cure if she has to."

"I hope I will not be that big of a burden. A summer is the most I could ask for," Nishiko stated, "if she and I have been unable to find the answer in a summers time, I will no longer hold her to the promise."

"We will help too," Shippo insisted.

"Thank you," Nishiko licked his cheek softly, "you are very kind."