A New Path

By: Ryu Katanna

Beta:

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter Prologue

Consciousness came slowly as blue eyes framed in long lashes flickered open. Long black hair, dirty and matted, fell around a pale form as light shone in through the lush green of the forest where the young woman lay prone between the trees. Pain registered next as white teeth flashed from behind pouted lips, and she let out a wounded hiss. Her body felt like it was on fire as she sat up to look down and take account of her injuries.

There were really too many to count. Her shoulder had been wrenched out of it's socket, and her arm hung limp for the most part. Muscles screaming out at her when she tried to move it. Numerous cuts covered her body collecting the dirt from the ground, and could be seen through the many cuts in her clothing. The worst of them all were the two long gashes that ran from her knee to the inside of her upper thigh, and what felt like a hole in her side from Naraku's tentacle trying to pierce through her flesh. He had succeeded, but she knew he had missed anything vital only because she wasn't already dead. They were still sluggishly dripping with blood and had not fully clotted.

'I have to move. Where am I? This doesn't look like Inuyasha's forest.'

She thought with a groan as she levered herself up on her less injured leg; only to stumble a bit when she went to put pressure on the other.

Taking a steeling breath, she used the trees for support as she stumbled forward. Having no idea where she was did not help as she moved blindly through the trees. Minutes passed, and then what felt like hours, as her vision began to haze and her breathing became difficult. Her head swam, and her ribs screamed in pain as she stumbled into the next tree. Knowing that she needed to keep moving, she took a few labored breaths, before moving a few steps further when her body finally gave out.

The young woman's step faltered and she fell. Hitting the ground hard, blue eyes looked up to the lighter blue of the cloudless sky. Her vision blurred and her mind became numb. She had one last thought before her consciousness gave out completely.

'After everything, this is how I'm to die? What a crappy deal…'

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Sound came first. The crackle of a fire, and the rustling movement the things shifting. The feel of warmth next, and breathing that was easier. Blue eyes peeked open from under dark lashes just enough to see around her. Someone else was here. Her body felt numb, but pain flared as she jerked up and moved away early from the unfamiliar presence she felt.

"Sampeyan lagi sakit! Mangga ngapusi!" A girl spoke quickly a she jumped up and hurried over. (You're hurt! Please lie down!)

The girl had the brightest red hair that she had ever seen. Green eyes held only worry and a gentle look as she looked back at her. Looking down, the raven haired young woman could see the bandages that covered her body, and the fire that had kept her warm as the sun had faded. The girl must have put them there, and she felt herself relax just a bit as blue eyes looked back up.

"Jenengku Shirayuki. Aku wong herbal. Mangga, ngaso saiki nalika aku nangani sampeyan." The words were unfamiliar, but the tone in her voice was gentle and comforting. (My name is Shirayuki. I'm an herbalist. Please, rest for now while I treat you.)

She knew that tone all too well. This girl was a healer, and not a fighter. Her body language did not even hint at any kind of physical training. Blue eyes looked at the red haired girl in confusion.

"Where am I? Who are you?" It was apparent to her from the look on the younger girl's face that she did not understand her just as much.

The confused look passed as the red head pointed to herself.

"Shirayuki." She said slowly before reaching over to pull some herbs in front of her and show them to the older girl, and then point at the bandages that covered the wounds.

"Kagome." The older girl pointed to herself in much the same way.

A smile lit up Shirayuki's face with that one word. Understanding each other would take a while, but it wasn't impossible. Green eyes looked up at the faded sun before looking back at Kagome. She bit her lip worriedly. The older girl really shouldn't be moved but…

"Tanbarun. Omahku." She said as she pointed in the direction of the town. (Tanbarun. My home.)

Kagome paused for a second as she tried to puzzle out the words, but really couldn't. Shirayuki sighed when is was apparent she didn't understand. She had thought for sure that the other girl would know about Tanbarun. She could tell from the difference in language that the other girl was a foreigner, but she thought she would at least recognize the kingdom she was in.

"Aku kudu mulih sadurunge kakek-nenekku sumelang. Aku kudu nggawa sampeyan bali karo aku." Shirayuki said as she gathered her things and doused the fire with dirt. (I need to get home before my grandparents worry. I'll have to take you back with me.)

Kagome looked on in confusion as the girl did this before she approached her. She let Shirayuki lever her up from the ground, and put her arm over the red heads shoulder on her injured side. It was then she knew that the girl was leading her somewhere, and so she stumbled along side her. She was in the middle of an unknown forest, and this girl had already helped her. She had cleaned her wounds, stopped the bleeding, and bandaged her. The girl wouldn't have done that just to lead her to somewhere she would get hurt again.

Soon they came to a town with building like Kagome had never seen before. It was then she knew she was lost. The blowback of power from the Shikon No Tama's destruction had sent her to somewhere completely new. She froze at the site of the town, and this realization. The jewel had been the catalyst for so much in her life, but what had it done to her now?

"Tanbarun." She heard Shirayuki say as the girl pointed at the town.

'What have I gotten myself into now?'

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This idea just hit me last night, and I couldn't help but start writing. Chapter updates will be slow because I'm also working on some other stories as well. Hope you enjoyed it, and let me know what you think. Rating may change later.

Until then, Ryu