Kagome strolled through the bustling middle-school hallway alongside Eri, Yuka and Ayumi, who were attempting to convince her to go on a date with Hojo, as they did every minute they weren't in a lesson.

"But he likes you, Kagome! Why don't you just give him a chance?" Eri whined, tugging at Kagome's left forearm. Yuka took hold of her right one, pulling, causing Kagome to lose her balance slightly. The girls continued to plead her to go on at least one date with Hojo, but Kagome's response remained the same as always.

A sigh, a roll of the eyes and a sweet smile. "Guys, Hojo's my friend, that's all. I don't think of him that way."

This statement only provoked further whining from her friends, and Kagome couldn't help but let out a small giggle. Her friends were persistent, but they cared for her. She hadn't ever shown much interest in boys, refusing to partake in the constant conversation on which one looked the cutest that day, or which one would make the perfect husband. It wasn't that Kagome didn't like boys like that, she just had better things to do, like study.

Kagome was suddenly brought to a halt by her friends, who stopped in the middle of the hallway. Kagome turned her head to the obstruction of their path. Two girls, kneeling on the floor and crying - no - screaming. They let out high pitched sobs, which roused attention from those nearby, forming a crowd in a circle around them.

A boy knelt down to them, placing one hand on each of their shoulders in an attempt to console them. "What's happened?" He asked, his voice soft. "Why are you crying?"

"Our friend!" One of the girls cried out, causing the crowd of students around her to silence themselves. The girl hesitated before speaking again. Kagome watched her as she squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to say whatever she was about to. "Our friend went to the garden. She was taken! She's dead!"

The crowds gasped in unison, and the hallway began to buzz with conversation. "The garden? She went to the house?" "There's no way she's alive." "Do you think she's been eaten by now?" "Didn't she know what happens when you go to the garden?"

Kagome's eyes widened. She had heard much about the garden from her Grandpa, who was the master on all ancient stories, theories and conspiracies. He'd told her about the garden and warned her never to step foot within a mile of it, but she'd believed it was another one of his silly made-up stories.

An old, abandoned house atop a large hill, five or so miles from her home. She could view it in the distance when standing at the top of the shrine steps. The house was plain, wooden and looked as though it could fall down at any given moment due to being so old, five-hundred years old according to Grandpa. The house gained its fame from the beautiful garden which surrounded the perimeter, filled with flowers of all scents and colours, and more importantly, rare plants which could be used to heal the deadliest of illnesses. The word was that the garden still contained magic, which existed long ago in Japan before disappearing without a trace.

However, everyone knew never to set foot near the garden, as her Grandpa had warned her. The ancient story of the house foretold an evil demon which guarded the garden, and any human who entered would be taken by the demon and was never to be seen again.

Kagome didn't believe it. Demons, magic, it was all so far-fetched. She watched the house from her shrine all the time when she was small, and she had never once caught a glimpse of a demon.

But now it was different. Now there was a girl that had gone missing and was last seen near the garden. Kagome's heart raced, beating so hard and so fast that she began to feel faint. The story wasn't true. There was no demon in that house, was there?

"Kagome!"

Kagome returned to the real world, where Eri, Yuka and Arumi were staring at her with concerned expressions. "Kagome, are you okay? You were just staring into space."

Kagome faked a smile, linking their arms tightly with her own. "I'm fine. I was just thinking that we have History now and we'll be late if we don't hurry. Let's go!" She pulled her friends down the hallway, speeding past the two girls who were still crying on the floor. She did not want to think about demons or gardens for one moment longer.

As hard as she tried, Kagome couldn't stop thinking about it. She sat through her history lesson in deep thought, her teacher's voice just a muffle in the distance. It's a myth, she thought to herself. It's just a myth, right? Why do I care so much about that house?

She tapped her fingers against her textbook, questioning herself over and over again. An idea suddenly hit her and she threw open the book, frantically searching the pages for anything regarding the feudal era.

She flicked through the pages and suddenly froze on one page with a detailed sketch and some writing underneath. It was a sketch the house and the garden.

Kagome slowly traced her fingers along the sketch, staring intensely at each detail. The worn wood, the cracks and holes scattering each side. The flowers. Pink, yellow, blue, purple. Every colour that existed, existed in that garden. Plants, herbs, vegetables. It was beautiful.

Kagome's eyes flicked down to the writing underneath the sketch. The garden is guarded by the offspring of the great dog demon, who ruled the lands. Any human who enters the garden will come into contact with the offspring and will be sacrificed in order to preserve the beauty of the garden.

Sacrifice?

"Kagome?"

Kagome's eyes shot up, her cheeks growing hot and red as she realised the eyes of her teacher and every single one of her classmates were on her. "Kagome, can you answer the question?"


"But we always walk home together!"

"I know," Kagome sighed, avoiding eye contact with the other girls. If she looked at them, she would give in. "I have to go and get something for my Mama today. Sorry." She turned away and began to run in the opposite direction before they could begin to protest. "See you tomorrow!" She called before sprinting away.

Once she was far enough away that she couldn't see her friends in the distance, she slowed her pace to catch her breath, now drifting along the road. She wasn't even certain where she was headed, but there was something in the back of her mind, telling her to walk.

The road came to an end and Kagome approached the entrance of a small forest, which led uphill. She stopped for a moment, her eyes searching the trees for anything that could potentially harm her. This was not a good idea. Kagome knew that if there was any truth in the ancient conspiracy, that she would come face to face with something non-human. Why was she here? Was it to save the girl?

She stepped into the forest.

She walked among the trees, stopping every so often to observe different plants and herbs she had never seen before. She contemplated picking some and taking them home to Mama, but she hesitated, not wanting to awaken any forest demons by stealing from them. Whilst observing, something caught Kagome's eye. She looked up and her gaze caught the first flower.

The garden. She was here.

It was more ethereal than she could have imagined, and the scent only enhanced its beauty further. Kagome took a deep breath in through her nose, allowing the aroma to flow through her body, sending her into a relaxed state. She wanted to go further in. Something was pulling her towards the garden.

She stepped closer, allowing the flowers to fill all of her senses. The buzzing of insects, the scent of the flowers, the sight of every colour known to man. Kagome knelt down and reached out, ready to feel the soft petals of a small, pink flower at the very edge of the garden.

Wait!

Her conscience pierced through her trance and brought her back to reality. She pulled her hand back, away from the flower, and allowed her body to take her down the hill, as far from the garden as possible. As she ran, thoughts swirled around her head. What happened to me?

The road entered her view again, and once she was completely free from the forest, she stopped for a moment to catch her breath. She still felt it, an invisible force pulling her back up the hill, the same force that had caused her to almost touch the flower and enter.


In her dreams, Kagome saw the garden again, and in her dream she entered, falling into a bed of bright pink hibiscus flowers. Suddenly, beneath her, the flowers began to wither. Kagome scrambled to her feet, watching in panic as the flowers instantly died. "What's happening?" She cried, her stomach panging with an intense guilt. "Did I kill them?"

"You killed them." A male voice from behind startled her, causing Kagome to spin around and fall backwards into the bed of dead flowers. Her eyes widened in fear as she stared up at the source of the voice.

A demon, with white hair flowing down to his knees and furs and fabrics covering his body. Amber, almost golden eyes. Red marks slashed across both of his cheeks, and a crescent moon in the centre of his forehead. Kagome knew immediately that he could not be human.

She began to cry as the demon approached her, fear cascading over her body which prevented her from running. "Are you going to kill me?" She managed to whisper.

She covered her face but left a gap between her fingers so she could peer up at the demon once more. He was kneeling beside her, inches from her face. He had no expression. No anger, no smirk. His eyes were empty, his voice was monotone. "You killed my flowers."

Kagome's eyes shot open, her breathing erratic and her forehead drenched in sweat. It took her a few moments to realise it was only a dream and that she was laying in bed instead of on the flowers. She swung her legs around to sit on the edge of her bed and breathed deeply, in and out, allowing her body to relax. The ticking of her alarm clock eventually caught her attention. 5am. The sun was just beginning to rise.

"Souta!"

Her mother's scream startled her and the panic she had just managed to rid immediately returned. "Mama?" She called out. No answer. "Mama?"

She opened her bedroom door and froze in the hallway, listening out for any noise to determine which room her mother was in. "Souta, can you hear me?" Souta's room.

"Mama?" Kagome called once more, entering Souta's room to see his mother sat on the edge of her little brother's bed, accompanied by her Grandpa. Kagome's gaze then fixed on Souta. He was deathly pale and unresponsive.

"Souta!" Kagome let out a scream, falling to her knees in the doorway. She reminded herself of the girls in school who had lost their friend, her cries now identical. "Is he dead?"

"He's not dead." Grandpa replied. His tone was calm, though his face expressed deep concern. "He's unresponsive. He's been bitten."

"Bitten?" Kagome asked, wiping tears from her eyes and sniffling. "Bitten by what?"

The lack of reply to her question told Kagome that her mother and Grandpa did not know what had bitten Souta, but it was clear that something had. Souta's left wrist was stained purple, with two large red bite marks in the centre, blood trickling from the holes. Kagome felt her stomach churn.

"This is the work of a demon! Modern medicine won't treat this." Grandpa explained confidently. "A rare herb will be required to rid this venom."

"Where do you get something like that?" Mama asked, her voice hoarse from screaming her son's name so many times in an attempt to wake him.

Somehow, Kagome knew exactly what her Grandfather was going to say before it left his mouth, and she spoke simultaneously with him. "The garden."

And Kagome was gone. Still wearing pink cotton pyjamas and thick, fluffy white socks, Kagome was sprinting through the streets. The sun was rising, a deep orange glow obstructing her vision as she ran. She held one hand to her face to block the sunlight, the other hand tightly balled into a fist.

She ran until she reached the entrance of the forest, her mind flashing back to only yesterday after school when she was here. The familiar force took hold of her, pulling Kagome towards the forest, and she stepped forward, allowing herself to be drawn in.

Her mind was fixed solely on Souta. She had to save him. As fearful as she was of whatever was guarding the house, no demon could prevent her from finding the herb and saving her brother. She would ask the demon which herb would remove the venom, and she would return home. Her brother would remain alive. Kagome was determined that this would be the case.

The garden entered her view and she took a deep breath, her eyes falling over the bed of flowers that had haunted her dreams. If she touched them, would they die like they had done in her dream? She didn't give a second thought before stepping one foot into the garden, tiptoeing along a small footpath which separated the bed of flowers into two and led towards the house.

Kagome approached the section of the garden which contained the herbs. She did not know which one would be the one to save her brother. Would she pick them all? She swallowed before reaching forward to touch one of the plants.

"You have returned." Kagome screamed, falling on her side onto the footpath. The voice she heard was hauntingly familiar, and Kagome knew exactly why. The voice continued, "You received my message."

Kagome stared at him confusedly as she shakily scrambled to her feet. "Message?" She questioned, desperately trying not to show her fear. "What message would that be?"

"Your dream was no mere dream, girl." The demon replied, his voice as monotone as it had been before. No evident emotion existed with this creature. "You were to return to this garden."

"And why is that?" Kagome challenged, trying desperately to be brave. The demon almost smiled then, the corner of his mouth twitching ever so slightly upwards. He replied, "Because your brother is dying."

Kagome let out a deep sigh. How did he know that? It didn't matter. The demon guarded this garden, he was bound to know which herb would be the one to save Souta.

"He was bitten by something venomous." Kagome explained, her eyes never once leaving the golden iris' of the demon. "We need an antidote to save him. You have something in your garden that can save him, right?"

"And I am to give it to you, human girl?"

Kagome nodded. The demon took one step closer, causing her to flinch, her confidence wavering. "You may have the antidote."

What? Her fear subsided and a smile broke across her face. "Really? Thank you!" She exclaimed, "Could you tell me which one will save him?"

The demon then held out one hand, and Kagome noticed that he had claws where his nails should be. She remembered her history textbook, which stated the demons of the garden were offspring of a dog demon. This man was a dog?

In the dog demon's hand was a plant. "This will save him." The demon said, holding it out to her. Kagome reached out and took the plant, pulling her hand away as quickly as she could in the fear that he would scratch her. "You'll let me live?"

The dog demon's mouth twitched upwards once more. "You must return to the garden once the antidote has been delivered."

She inhaled sharply, shocked at his statement. She couldn't return, she had school today. Why would she return? "I – I can't return. I'm sorry."

The demon stepped closer once more. "In which case the antidote is futile. Your brother will die."

Kagome's eyes widened and tears began to well in her eyes. She was the price to pay for the antidote? Was he going to kill her? She could save her own life, refuse the antidote and return to normal. Her body screamed at her to run, to take a chance at life, but her mind would not let her move. Souta.

She would sacrifice her life to save her little brother. She would return to the garden. She would die.

She brought a hand to her face, wiping the tears from her eyes, and she nodded. "The antidote for my return." She agreed. In a flash, the demon disappeared, freeing the pathway back to the forest. Kagome would go home and deliver the antidote.

Souta awoke with a cough, fluttering his eyes open to see three relieved, crying faces in front of him. Kagome smiled, sighing in utter relief that her brother was alive and awake.

Kagome's mother pulled the small boy into her arms, still sobbing as she exclaimed how happy she was that he was okay, promising that she would never let anything happen to either of her children as long as she was alive. Kagome smiled sadly, wishing that would be the case, but knowing she would be back in the garden and probably dead within the next few hours.

"Kagome, thank you." Grandpa whispered, squeezing Kagome's arm to signify a hug. Kagome nodded in reply, smiling sadly into her Grandfather's eyes. These were her last moments with her family, and she could not even show her devastation or say goodbye out loud.

With a deep inhale to prevent crying in front of them, Kagome turned on her heels and walked to her own bedroom, where she began to perform her morning routine as if she were heading to school on a normal day. With shaky hands she unbuttoned her pyjamas, replacing them with her uniform. She would pretend that she was going to school as normal to spare them from worrying for at least a few hours.

She opened her trusty yellow backpack which was sitting on her desk and filled it with a few items of clothing and some schoolbooks with the hope that maybe the demon wouldn't kill her and would let her study for her tests. Kagome nearly laughed aloud to herself. There was no way she'd be coming out of this alive.

She creeped downstairs, careful not to disturb Mama and Souta, who were still basking in their relief. An ache made its way through her chest, reminding her that she would not set foot into her house again, would not eat at the dinner table, would not sleep in her bed. Tears threatened her eyes once more, but Kagome fought them back, opening the cupboard and placing some instant ramen in her backpack.

"I'm going!" She called out once her shoes were on, and a faint goodbye from her family rang in her ears as she made her way down the road towards the forest. Her backpack was slung over her shoulder, causing her slight pain at its heaviness. She'd overfilled it by bringing her books. Huffing, Kagome slung the bag over her other shoulder to give her pained one a rest.

"You have returned. A wise choice." The demon greeted her as she drifted down the footpath between the flowerbeds. "Come."

Kagome followed him inside the old, wooden house and she scanned the inside, which was far larger than the house appeared to be from outside, though there was no furniture and no items to be seen. Once she was finished with her observation, Kagome asked, "So where will my body go?"

The demon, who was standing in front of her, turned his body towards her slightly. He did not reply to her question, so she elaborated. "When you kill me," She said slowly, "Where will you put my body?"

"I'm not going to kill you." The demon replied, a small laugh in the form of a huff leaving his mouth. A glimmer of hope pulsed through Kagome's body. She would live?

She couldn't help but ask, "Why not?"

He turned away from her once more and began to walk. She followed closely behind him, curiously awaiting his answer. In silence, they walked for a while, the interior of the house seeming to grow larger and larger the further inside she went. She was then led down a set of creaky wooden stairs, into a pitch-black room. Once the darkness covered them completely, the demon replied, "Weak humans who enter the garden sacrifice their souls to replenish the soil." Kagome shivered in fear, praying that she would not meet the same fate.

"However," The demon stopped walking suddenly, causing Kagome to stumble and almost fall into the back of him. "You are no mere weak human." He turned to her then, his golden eyes providing a tiny source of light in the black room. Kagome's eyes followed his hand, which reached in her direction as he pointed a finger to her stomach. She furrowed her brows in confusion, then looked down at where he was pointing and gasped.

A light flickered from underneath her uniform, just above her hip. There was something inside of her? What was it?

It was as if he heard her thoughts, because the demon began to explain. "You possess what is known as the Shikon jewel. The jewel contains immense power, as do you. You will give the jewel to me."

Kagome didn't respond. This was not the first time she had heard of the Shikon jewel. Grandpa had told her of the legend, how the jewel enhanced the power of those in possession of it, demon or human. Why was the jewel inside of her? In any case, she did not want to enhance the power of this killing demon. She stumbled back to distance from him, though she could sense him moving towards her.

She ran, allowing the faint light of the jewel inside her to illuminate her path. The demon followed closely behind her before suddenly appearing in front of her. She screamed, stumbling into him before she could stop herself. He grabbed her wrist with one hand, the other pointing its claws, ready to rip the jewel from her body.

"Stop!" She let out a deafening, high-pitched scream. An intense heat ripped through her body and down her arm, where a sudden burst of white light followed, causing the demon to release her wrist and fall to the ground with a cry.

Kagome leapt over his injured body, sprinting for her life. She didn't know what the hell she just did, but it worked, so who cared, right?

She continued to run until the jewel's light revealed something in the way, causing Kagome to stop. An enormous tree stood before her, and attached to it... a demon?

This demon was younger than the other and had much more resemblance to a human, except for a pair of fluffy dog ears which sat above his head of long, silver-white hair. He was unconscious, possibly dead, a large arrow sticking out of his chest.

He didn't look dead. He looked peaceful, as though he was sleeping. Kagome didn't feel scared of him as she had of the other demon. She stepped towards the tree to take a closer look at the dog boy, her hands instinctively reaching out and finding his ears.

"So soft." She whispered, her fingers stroking around the fur of the ears. She stared curiously at his face. He's cute.

Her eyes then found the arrow again, and a voice in her head told her to touch it. With hesitance, Kagome touched the arrow and wrapped her hand around the shaft. She thought for a moment and pulled, and similarly to what had appeared from her hand when she was fighting the other dog demon, a burst of white light dispersed from the arrow.

When the light disappeared, Kagome realised that the arrow was gone, and a pair of golden eyes had fluttered open and were staring into her own.