Kagome

Opening my eyes, I turned my face to the heavens and gazed upon a square of the bluest sky I had seen in years. This sight set my heart to thumping and sent my blood racing through my veins. I felt the old ache return, the ache to be running through the vastness of the sky as my people were born to do. These emotions left me breathless. Never had they been so strong these past seven years and my currently human body had no way of dealing with them.

Looking over at me, my mother smiled a knowing smile and bade me climb onto her back. Obliging, I placed my arms around her neck and felt her bunch her muscles underneath herself in preparation for the jump. Suddenly, she loosed her muscles and sprang up and up, the sky coming closer by the second.

Emerging from the well, I looked around at the surrounding forest, just the way I remembered it. The soft light of the afternoon sun wrapped the whole clearing in a warm glow. The leaves on the trees ranged in colour from a deep emerald to a sparkling jade, and the trunks were and earthy brown. The floor was covered in yet more green with a few wildflowers dotting it here and there. Though not as beautiful as my clearing at home, it was similar enough to flood my mind with memories.

"Come. This way," said my mother, claiming my attention.

I looked at her, confused. "Do not we live in this direction?" I asked, pointing in the opposite direction she was headed.

Smiling amusedly, she nodded and said, "We do, but before that, we have some business with Kaede-sama, do we not?

I was confused for a second, then remembered what it was that she was referring to. "Oh yeah!" I exclaimed. "I need her to remove this accursed necklace," I said, referring to the pendant around my neck that had kept my powers in check these past years.

My mother just laughed and led the way to the village.

Walking through the streets of the village, the laughter of children was everywhere. I couldn't help but laugh along. The whole time, people were greeting us and commenting on how big I had grown.

Although the people in this village were not particularly fond of youkai, my family was an exception. We were quite well known, and well loved.

Arriving at Kaede's hut, we knocked, but no one answered.

"Might you two be looking for Kaede-sama?" asked a girl I didn't recognize, coming up from behind me.

I nodded.

"I'm sorry," she said. "But Kaede-sama has gone out. She won't be back for about an hour."

I sighed. "I guess we can wait an hour."

Suddenly, I felt my mom put something around my shoulders. Looking down, I saw that it was her shawl.

Smiling, she said, "I'm going to be visiting some friends, so why don't you go explore the forest? I'm pretty sure it's safe. Not many youkai come this way, and if they do, that shawl has my scent on it, so you won't be attacked.

Excited, I said, "Thanks mama! I'll be back in an hour!"

Turning around, I ran back the way we had come and was soon back in the woods. They really were very pretty, and they had a calmness to them that I had missed while living in the hustle and bustle of future Japan.

I didn't pay much attention to where I was going. I knew these woods like the back of my hand because I used to come here all the time when I was younger.

After about twenty minutes of aimless wandering, I came upon a small, hidden pond that no one else knew about. Lowering myself onto the soft grass, I looked down into the clear blue water and caught a small glimmer of fish.

I sat there for a while, relaxing and listening to life go on around me, but soon, the sky began to grow darker, and I knew it was time for me to head back to the village.

Standing up, I turned around, and almost fell into the pond from surprise.

Standing silently a few feet behind me, was a young man with the silver hair and face markings of an Inu Youkai. His silky hair was about waist-length, and it was obvious from the quality of his clothes that he was someone important.

"W-what do you want?" I asked, nervous.

"I was just passing through when I caught scent of an old acquaintance. I decided to drop by to pay a visit, but it turned out to be you," he said, his expression passive. Suddenly, he appeared just inches from my nose, and said, "What are you doing with that shawl?"

I couldn't answer him. My heart was beating too fast. He could obviously hear it, which made it all the more embarrassing.

When I didn't answer, he snarled, and repeated his question. "Why do you have that shawl?"

Thinking he might be dangerous, I played it safe, saying, "I-I know the owner of it. She gave it to me in case any youkai tried to attack me. I was going to go meet back up with her now."

He looked at me suspiciously, then said, "I see. If you really are an acquaintance of hers, then it would be rude to simply leave you on your own. I will accompany you to your destination."

"S-sure," I said. Being around him made me kind of nervous, but I was intrigued by him at the same time.

I was paying so much attention to the mysterious stranger that I w wasn't watching where was going and almost walked right into a tree.

"Hey!" said the stranger, pulling me away just in time. "Will you watch where you're going?" he said, seeming annoyed.

I laughed. "Ah, gomen, gomen, umm…"

"Sesshomaru," he said. "My name is Sesshomaru."

I came to a complete halt, staring at him. "What did you say?"

He just kept walking. "You heard what I said."

Running to catch up with him, I grabbed his arm and said, "You, are you really Sesshomaru? Inutaishou's first son? That Sesshomaru?"

He looked at me with an odd expression.

"How do you know my father? Who are you?"

Latching onto him, I shouted, "Oh my god! It is you! Sess-chaaan!"

He suddenly looked at me, his eyes as wide as saucers. "Sess-chan? Only one person calls me that!" he said. Then, he seemed to spot the pendant around my neck, and said, "K-Kagome!"

SkyeSyren: Well, that's chapter 2 all done! What did you think? Please review, and tell me what you thought!