Title: Caged
Chapter 1: Kagome Kagome
Summary: The time for the Chuunin Selection Exams has finally come however, a village rumored to haven youkai, monks, and mikos will be participating in it. Higurashi Kagome a powerful kunoichi with a mysterious past knows better than anyone does what it is like to be alone.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Inuyasha.
A/N: Please read and review! Reviews are much appreciated!
"You vile scum!" a woman in her mid-thirties yelled while she threw a rock at the small figure dressed in rags, barely missing her fleeing form.
The young girl quickly scampered away; a handful of cold rice was clutched to her chest. Multiple bruises as well as cuts adorned her creamy skin. She was visibly malnourished with her rib bones prominently showing through her skin.
She took haven in a deserted alley and ate her small meal with haste.
Her sapphire blue eyes darted suspiciously around for movement and her ears strained to hear any sounds. Her tinted blue raven hair shined in the moonlight, showing off how smooth and silky it was even though it had not been washed in days.
Her angelic face glowed under the moon making her seem like a true tenshi. She had impossibly wide eyes with long black lashes framing them, high cheekbones, a pert nose, and luscious lips.
A strange tattoo of a teardrop in silver was centered on her forehead, a clear sign of royalty that held no sign of distinction to anyone she had encountered. She herself did not understand its significance. Her only memory was of waking up on a blood soaked battlefield with no bodies in sight.
She could remember death and fighting she could see herself killing others and it frightened her. She couldn't remember her past but somehow she had contained the knowledge she had already gained to fend for herself.
As a cool breeze of air swept by she shivered and realized she would need to find shelter if she were to survive the winter. The clothes she wore were insufficient for blocking the cold seeing as the silky material was ripped in several places.
She believed she was somewhere in Tsuchi no Kuni but unsure of where exactly. She had been traveling for weeks, unsure of where she was going only knowing she felt the need to head west.
"Kagome, Kagome…" the sudden sound of children playing in the street that the alley opened into met her ears and she hid herself in the shadows, watching them wistfully.
Slowly she felt a dull ache in the back of her head, which turned into a stabbing pain, causing her legs to give out beneath her so that she fell to her knees, desperately clutching he head as silent tears slid down her cheeks.
'You are nothing but a caged bird, just like the children's song,' a woman's cold whisper echoed in her head.
'Your destiny is to be a beautiful caged bird for one to admire,' a man's voice rang out with a laugh. 'Because to touch would be fatal.'
"Kagome, Kagome…Kago no naka no tori wa…Itsu itsu deyaru…Yoake no ban ni…Tsuru to kame ga subetta…Ushiro no shoumen dare?" the children's' voices sang together to the night sky oblivious to the pain of the child hidden in the alley.
"My name is Kagome…Kagome Higurashi."
Tsukigakure was a village located to the west in Tsuki no Kuni.
It was much more isolated than the other hidden villages and while Tsuki no Kuni was a country hard to find and get into, Tsukigakure was nearly impossible to find and no outsider had ever made it into the village.
Not many shinobi had heard of it and even fewer civilians. Nevertheless, those who did knew nothing other than the village's name, most believing it to be a near myth.
It was a village that was not very open and kept it secrets and mysteries, preferring to remain neutral even during the Great Shinobi War. However, there were no rules exempting the village from participating in the Chuunin Selection Exams that were to be held in Konohagakure.
However, as the Sandaime Hokage reread the letter that had come attached to a ninken tori he felt an air of unease settle around him. After all a rumor of Tsukigakure was that it was a haven to youkai, monks, and miko all thought to have died out long ago with the exception of the bijuu.
The sun shone down harshly on their backs as they walked with grace throughout Konohagakure, seemingly oblivious to the stares they were receiving from civilians and shinobi alike.
Kagome's midnight blue hair tumbled in waves down her back. She wore a traditional fighting kimono, although it had been slightly modified to make it easier to move in.
The material was a pure white silk with long sleeves that hid white ribbons wrapped around her arms but was cut to mid-thigh, showing off her long legs that had bandages wrapped around her ankles stopping right below her knees.
A sapphire blue obi that matched her eyes was tied around her waist, a silver flute peeking out from under it.
On her back, she carried twin katanas, which were able to form into a sword earning the name Tsuki no Takai. Her holster was tied to her right thigh and carried scrolls, kunai, and shuriken. Senbon needles were hidden in the sleeves of her kimono.
She stood at 4 foot 10 inches and had cold aristocrat features yet her expression was soft and kind. Her silver teardrop tattoo was covered by her hitai-ate, the Tsukigakure symbol a crescent moon engraved on the metal plate.
Kagome's two teammates, Kumo Hakudoshi and Taisho Inuyasha protectively flanked her sides, glaring at anyone suspicious.
Kumo Hakudoshi was a year older than Kagome at age 13 and let his long hair flow freely down his back. His haori and hakamas were both a lilac color, made of the same material as Kagome's clothes.
The only weapon he appeared to be carrying was his menacing naginata which he held tightly in his hands, however pockets inside the sleeves of his haori held senbon needles.
He was taller than Kagome by around a head and had a cold look about his features. His hitai-ate was tied loosely around his neck.
Taisho Inuyasha, a loud-mouthed 13-year-old shinobi had his wild silvery white hair tied back in a ponytail at the base of his neck. He wore the bright red robes of the fire rat, a material that was fire proof and nearly indestructible.
His sword, Tetsusaiga was tied proudly at his side in its dormant stage, while a holster was tied to his right leg and upper right arm and like his teammates he had senbon needles hidden in the sleeves of his haori.
He was slightly taller than Hakudoshi and his eyes burned with determination, his features were very masculine, with a strong jaw and a roughened appearance. His hitai-ate like Kagome's was tied around his head.
"The villagers they tend to stare a lot, ne?" Kagome said looking around curiously.
"They should keep their noses out of other people's business," Inuyasha muttered, shoving his hands into the sleeves of his haori.
Kagome sighed knowing her friend was already irritated enough, after all the journey from Tsuki no Kuni to Hi no Kuni was long and weary, the villagers would just push his temper to the breaking point.
Hakudoshi, the most level headed of the team glanced at Kagome before his eyes slid over to land on the brooding Inuyasha.
"Let's go this way," he suggested and turned onto a less populated backstreet. "It will get us away from their disrespectful gawking."
Kagome smiled gratefully at Hakudoshi who cracked a small smirk in response. Noticing the exchange Inuyasha rolled his eyes and grunted.
"Keh."
A/N: Please read and review the more reviews the faster I update!
Next chapter pairings will be up for voting!