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The Miko and the Daiyoukai

Chapter One: Returning


The afternoon sun seemed to shine directly above the Bone Eater's Well, the heat of it beating down on raven tresses that adorned the head of the small woman climbing out of it. Fingers gripping the vines that slithered their way down to the bottom and feet struggling to find cracks sufficient enough to assist in the climb upwards. You would think this would get easier with time, Kagome thought as she neared the opening. She swung her legs over the lip of the Well, breathing a sigh of relief. She pushed the bright yellow bag to the ground first before following closely behind it, laying on her back and throwing her arm over her eyes in a short respite.

It was a hot day, hotter than any other day she's experienced in her four years of travelling to the Feudal Era. She peaked up at the sun and glared pitifully at it before covering her eyes once again. Stupid sun and its stupid hot rays. Kagome huffed and pushed herself up, deciding that staying in the stupid sun would do nothing to help the heat she was feeling. Maybe she should've worn her uniform instead of taking the time out to change into some jeans? She felt like she was dying!

Kagome grabbed her ugly, yellow bag and walked towards Kaede's home. She smiled at the villagers as she passed by, waving to those that yelled out to her. She had been away for a week and a half and she missed this time, more than she probably should have. What would she do when her mission her was completed and her time here came to an end? She shook the thought out her head as she grew closer to the elder miko's home. She wouldn't dwell on things like that just yet. She'd cross that bridge when she came to it. Kagome felt an unease pass through her for a miniscule of a second before she noticed a Soul Eater flying away from Kaede's place of residence.

Kikyou…

Why was she here? Kagome felt the unease build in her as she walked through the door and saw her group of friends and Kikyou gathered together with a range of emotions on each of their faces. Miroku looked skeptical, Shippou looked displeased and Sango looked outright angry. Inuyasha looked determined and Kikyou, who sat by his side, looked as indifferent as always. No one looked at her enter, but she knew they knew she was there, standing in the entrance.

She cleared her throat. "Hey guys. I've missed you."

They all looked at her then, their expressions changing, all except Kikyou's, of course. Shippou jumped into her arms and she let her bag fall with a loud 'thump' to catch him.

"Momma, I missed you too!" He smiled at her, his vibrant green eyes sparkling with mirth. His joy was contagious and she found herself forgetting, only for a moment, the scene she walked into. She hugged his tiny body to her chest, squeezing because she knew he could handle the pressure. He laughed and batted at her shoulders. "Momma, you're gonna crush me!" Kagome laughed and released her tight hold on her baby. Shippou perched himself on her shoulder and nuzzled her hair. Kagome looked back at her friends and she remember the moment she was in. Sango smiled at her, but anger still lurked in her deep brown orbs.

"We've all missed you, Kagome," Sango patted the ground next to her, inviting her to the space as her eyes traveled to Inuyasha and Kikyou. Kagome didn't miss it, yet she pretended like she hadn't seen it as she grabbed her bag and moved over to the woman she thought of as her sister. A few minutes passed in a very awkward silence before Kagome decided that she couldn't take how everyone was acting.

"So… what's going on?" Kagome looked at everyone in turn, her gaze landing on Inuyasha, whose ears were twitching nervously. No one answered her immediately and she felt her irritation rising. She opened her mouth to speak once again.

"Inuyasha has decided to let Kikyou travel with us now," Miroku stated, his gaze locked on the hanyou sitting across from them.

Kikyou… was travelling with them now? Kagome's eyes darted from Miroku to Inuyasha and then they settled on Kikyou. Her indifference was unsettling. She was just staring at some space on the wall behind them, seeming unbothered by the obvious tension her presence brought. Her blue eyes went back to Inuyasha.

"Is this true?" Kagome's voice was a whisper. She knew he heard her. His ears flattened on his skull and he nodded once, looking away from her.

"She'll help us... we'll find shards faster and she can actually defend herself." Inuyasha spat. Kagome clenched her hands into fists and inhaled deeply. That wasn't the only reason he wanted Kikyou around and she knew it, they both knew it. Kikyou was her replacement. With Kikyou travelling with them, there would be no reason for Kagome to continue. What sense did it make to have two mikos who could sense shards when one was obviously better? Her heart clenched and she grit her teeth. This was some welcome back.

Kagome forced herself to smile. "Well, okay then. The more the merrier, right?" She saw Sango give her an incredulous look but she just continued to smile. "When will we all be leaving?" The smile was starting to hurt but she kept it up. She couldn't let them know how much this actually hurt her, though she was sure Inuyasha could smell it on her. She damn sure wasn't going to let Kikyou know just what her presence did to her mood. She wouldn't give her the satisfaction.

Inuyasha was eyeing her with his hands in his sleeves. "Keh," He stood, "We're leaving now." He walked out of the hut, no doubt expecting them to follow hot on his heels. Kagome sighed and looked away from the entrance, her eyes locking with Kikyou's. They stared at each other for a long moment before Kikyou followed the hanyou out.

"Kagome-sama," Miroku started, "Are you sure that you're okay with this?" His eyes shown concern and she just smiled and brushed him off.

"Of course I'm sure," She gave her smile to Sango as well, "This will benefit the group in the long run, right?" Miroku eyed her for a moment before sighing.

"You have a pure heart, Kagome-sama," He moved closer to her, "I only wish that people would understand how much power a pure heart has…" Kagome smiled, touched by his words before she felt a grip on her bottom.

A loud smack resonated in the small area before Kagome walked out, grumbling something about perverted monks with Sango laughing beside her. Miroku followed a few paces behind, his face alight with a bright red hand print across his cheek and satisfied grin on his face as they walked to catch up with Inuyasha and Kagome's incarnation.

Kagome slowed her pace as Kikyou and Inuyasha came into view. How was this ever going to work?


A short chapter, I know. They'll get longer soon!

Review, please (: