It wasn't just hot outside, it was sweltering. The sun beat down with a furious vengeance after being held away for so long. The usually busy streets that were densely populated during the cooler months were now only making way for a slow trickle of people who were in no mood to lollygag along. It was simply too hot to walk slowly in this heat. Everyone was seeking reprieve from the agony, including Kagome. But, unlike most of her family's neighbors, her schoolmates, and others, she wasn't spending her time swimming at the community pool, enjoying the leisure of the beach, or relaxing in her air conditioned home. On the contrary, she was doing what she normally did once summer appeared, in all its glory. She was in a frenzy to go where she usually went; down the well and back to the feudal era. She knew Inuyasha was probably becoming annoyed waiting for her, and the rest of the gang was likely to share his impatience.

"Okaasan!" Kagome called, hoping her mother could hear her over the loud television. "Have you seen my toothbrush?"

Kagome heard the familiar sound of the pattering of feet against the stairs, and she smiled when her mother appeared in her bedroom doorway, holding up her pink toothbrush.

"Thanks Okaasan!" Kagome said, stuffing it into her already full backpack. This time, she was sure to bring extra food, clothing, toiletries, and whatnot. She wouldn't be coming back anytime soon, considering she was on summer break.

"Going again, Kagome-chan?" her mother asked, concern built up on her face.

"Of course, its summer and I have nothing else to do. I promised Inuyasha that I would be there extra long this time." Kagome said, trying for the 10th time to close her yellow backpack. The darn thing just refused to bend to her will.

"Maybe you should stay a bit longer with us. You know…I'm sure your friends miss you and want to spend time with you, Kagome-chan. I don't think it's good that you spend so much time over there. Sometimes, I think you forget that you have a life here."

Kagome slowly stopped trying to close her bag, her hands coming to a halt. She looked up at her mother and noticed the look on concern on her face. Kagome could feel a pang in her heart, the kind that comes with the onslaught of guilt. Kagome couldn't lie; she did feel guilty for not being here. But, she had a responsibility toward her friends, and affections for Inuyasha that she couldn't exactly control. She knew, with all her heart, that she belonged there. Her life wasn't here. Walking toward her Okaasan, she wrapped her arms around her, resting her head on her shoulder.

"I'll be ok. I'll try coming back more often this summer, instead of what I planned. I just…I just feel so "at home" there. I don't understand it, but I know I belong there and I have a duty toward my friends. Also, there is Inuyasha…" she said, not ready to really talk about that relationship with her mom. She knew she suspected that they harbored more than friendly feelings for each other, but what she didn't know about were the tender moments between them. The intense feeling Kagome got when she saw Inuyasha, the plague of love that had invaded her heart and was slowly taking over her. She loved him, she truly did.

Kagome felt her mom cup her face in her hands and plant a kiss on her cheek.

"I know you'll be ok. Just come back often, Kagome-chan." She said, her voice slightly broken as she left the room.

Kagome nearly fell down the stairs as she struggled under the weight of her backpack. It was a arduous task carrying the pack on her back while dragging the bike along with her. Kagome's hand swiftly reached up to her neck as a precaution as she neared the shrine. She toyed with the familiar half sphere that she guarded around her neck at all times. She always had the habit of making sure she was carrying the Shikon no Tama with her as she made her way toward the shrine. She didn't dare to think of what Inuyasha would do if she lost it. They had already gone through enough trouble securing the bit that hung around her neck, and to lose it would be horrible.

Kagome sighed, relieved.

"I made it, yet again." She said to herself, albeit a little puzzled. Inuyasha hadn't shown up yet, and she was becoming tired with waiting in the depths of the well. He usually caught her scent the second she arrived, thus rushing to help her out.

Kagome sighed again, reasoning that he was possibly too far away to notice she arrived. She would just have to climb out herself.

(30 minutes later)

Frazzled, aching, and far from languid, Kagome had successfully climbed out of the well, a task that proved to be more difficult than usual, considering she had to get her bike and heavy backpack up with her. Kagome wheeled her bike along, looking around. Things were oddly silent, save for the crowing of a few black sparrows that flew overhead, somewhat circling around her. The sight along with the silence gave her an eerie chill, causing her to bite her lip.

"Things are never usually this quiet…" Kagome whispered to herself, unsure of what to make of the situation. She hoped nothing happened when she was away.

Quickening her pace, she saw the outline of the familiar village. Little huts were scattered everywhere along dirt paths that had flattened out smoothly with time. The forest trees loomed around it, giving the impression that they were guarding the villagers there. The sun had begun to rescind its presence as the tranquil evening drew near. A soft breeze bellowed, ruffling Kagome's hair slightly.

"Maybe Kaede-baba would know what is going on," Kagome pondered out loud, already moving toward the hut at the edge of the village. For some reason, one Kagome couldn't exactly pinpoint, it looked a little different than usual. She pulled aside the straw that was the entrance, and walked in carefully.

"Kaede-baba?" Kagome called out, an uneasy tension grappling her stomach. Looking around, Kagome noticed she was speaking to the silence. The hut was bare, save for the usual few things. Kagome strode back outside, and took a look around the village. Dusk had already descended.

"The villagers should be back soon, it is getting late." She said to herself. She smiled faintly, recognizing that she had been talking to herself nearly the entire day. She felt foolish.

Kagome set her bike by Kaede-baba's hut and walked toward the rice fields. If anywhere, she may be there.

Kagome looked ahead of the path and heard the familiar sound of the villagers. Their voices were hushed, yet polite and cheerful. Another day of gratifying work was done. Kagome walked toward them, and noticed a young girl running ahead.

"Why does her face look like someone I know…?" Kagome questioned in her mind. The girl was smiling, the sound of her high pitched laughter ringing out, as if it gave light to the darkness that was coming around.

"Kaede-chan! Don't run ahead!"

Kagome froze, her mouth slightly agape, and her eyes wide with disbelief. She must have heard wrong, she must have. "That voice…" another mental thought.

"Kikyo-sama, let the girl be. She was an avid rice worker today. Her laughter scares the darkness away." A male voice rang out, lightly chiding the woman who had reprimanded the running girl.

Kagome looked up. The villagers were nearing her. But it wasn't just the villagers that were walking in her direction, but the one woman she wasn't expecting to be in confrontation with.

Kikyo and Kagome locked eyes, eyes that looked so similar, yet that were so different.

Kikyo looked taken aback, her face switching from confusion to a defensive expression. Kagome saw Kikyo clutch her bow harder, looking as if she were battling with herself to attack.

The villagers came to a abrupt halt behind her. Their faces too displayed nothing more than pure bewilderment.

"Go ahead, I will be in the village shortly." Kikyo said firmly.

"But Onee-sama –"

"Go. Jiro-san, lead everyone ahead.

"Yes, Kikyo-sama," said the village man, bowing slightly and walking ahead quickly, pushing Kaede along.

The slight breeze and dark night glowered around them, and Kagome could slightly feel the pull of the Shikon no Tama. The same complete Shikon no Tama that was hanging around Kikyo's neck.

"Identify yourself!" Kikyo demanded, pointing an arrow at her.

Kagome stepped back slightly, her eyes wide and her face taking on a deathly pallor.

"Wait…you, you don't recognize me?" Kagome questioned, her voice wavering.

"Should I recognize you? All that I recognize is you look a lot like me." Kikyo scoffed, holding her head up.

Kagome kept silent, feeling caught and confused. She couldn't make out what was going on. "Why is the Shikon no Tama around Kikyo's neck when I can still feel half of it around mine? Why is Kaede-baba a child, where is Inuyasha, and why is Kikyo alive?" the thoughts ran through her mind making her feel sick. Maybe she really was sick, maybe this was a nightmare, maybe she was feverish…

Kagome pinched her arm and blinked. "Nope… this really isn't a nightmare."

"Where is Inuyasha?" Kagome said with slightly more courage in her voice.

Now it was Kikyo who went white, her face reverting back to the initial bafflement that it had when they first locked eyes.

"Inuyasha?" Kikyo questioned, his name sliding off her tongue slowly.

"Yes, Inuyasha" Kagome retorted.

"What do you know of him?" Kikyo questioned, emphasizing that she was holding an arrow at Kagome by thrusting the bow and arrow forward.

"I…I know that he…" Kagome began, but stopped herself as it dawned upon her. Kikyo was still alive, she had a complete Shikon no Tama, Kaede baba was a child, no Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and she hadn't even caught sight of Inuyasha. She was taken too far into the past. It was the past that she wasn't even a part of. The one she had no place in. Her mind went back to Inuyasha. She knew a lot more about him than Kikyo probably did, but not now. Now, she wouldn't even know the Inuyasha she was in love with. Kagome knew she should tread carefully.

"I…I'm from a village not far from here. I was told that there is a hanyo here that wants the Shikon no Tama and if he gets a hold of it, it would mean trouble. I was sent to tell you that you must be careful." Kagome said, unaware if what she said sounded right or not. Her mind was in such a blunder that she said whatever she thought Kikyo was most likely to believe.

Kikyo's eyes narrowed, and she slowly put down her bow.

"Worry about the affairs of your own village, girl." Kikyo snorted, walking around Kagome and back to the village.

"I'm sorry I left my things in your village, may I return with you?" Kagome questioned, unsure if Kikyo would agree.

She only got shrug in reply.

Back to the village they went.

"Onee-sama!" Kaede-baba called out as her and Kikyo walked into the village. Kagome made the plan in her mind. She would grab her things and go back down the well. She was here by mistake. But, unexpectedly, her stomach growled.

Kikyo and Kaede both turned to face her.

"Onee-sama, can she eat with us? It is only kind to feed a visitor. Those weird clothes must be uncomfortable too. Let us give her one of your miko garb." Kaede-baba plead, looking up at Kikyo.

Kikyo placed a hand on the girls head, and reluctantly nodded a frown on her face.

"Thank you, Onee-sama!" Kaede-baba cried. Kagome quickly felt the girls hand slip into hers and her body being tugged along. As they passed Kikyo, Kagome locked eyes with her once again. The look Kikyo gave her sent chills down her spine. "She doesn't trust me," Kagome thought to herself.

Once washed, dressed, and fed, Kagome wandered outside the hut.

"So, this is how Kikyo and Kaede-baba lived before." Kagome said to herself. The night was cool and far difference from the heat that Tokyo was experiencing. The stars above glimmered, and she wondered if they were the same stars she would see 50 years later, or even centuries ahead. She nonchalantly grabbed her bike an lifted her backpack into the basket. The miko garb she was dressed in felt unfamiliar to her, the soft material was loose and comfortable, but not her.

Not yet at least.

Kagome spotted the well ahead, the tiny clearing shrouded by the trees around. They swayed gently in the night breeze and the full moon provided enough light for her to know where she was going. Kagome threw her things down the well, prayed, and jumped down.

Sitting on the patch of dirt, amid the high walls, Kagome felt her heart sink. Nothing happened.

Nothing at all.

"Why!" she cried to the emptiness around her. "Why, why, why won't you take me back to where I belong?"

She sat there, dazed and confused. She had no idea what to do, where to go, and most importantly, how in the world she could get out of this time.

Sighing, she frowned as she noticed she had to lug her stuff back out of the well, along with herself.

After what seemed like forever, and tediously reaching the edge of the well she felt a claw clasp her hand, the long nails glinting in the moonlight.

"Inuyasha!" his name flashed in her mind, lighting away all the sad darkness that was there. She would finally see him.

A/N: I hope you liked it! It came to me randomly. Let me know if I should continue or not and/or if you want to see what happens next! I need to know if it is worth my time to continue. Not enough feedback will prompt me to delete it.

Thank you!