Wet, sand-paper tongue licked the tip of her nose. Kagome lazily scratched Buyo's ears.

"Silly cat," she mumbled, slowly rubbing her eyes and stretching. She felt as if she had slept her entire life…she had to admit, it felt pretty good. Between the soft velvety feel of the blankets and the pillow cushions, Kagome decided there couldn't have been a better place to sleep, even though it was on the floor.

Peering to the side, she blinked and rubbed her eyes again to ensure she wasn't imagining things. This cat was not Buyo. In fact, it had fierce red eyes, black stripes, and…was that two tails?

"Aw, you poor kitty…I hope the mutation still allows you to see…." Kagome tried to comfort, petting the cat's head. She had to do a double-take, for she was almost certain the cat gave her an irritated look. But by the time she looked again the cat was looking about in a listless manner.

Memory of the night in the forest came flooding back into her mind, as if a mighty dam had broken…and with that came confusion.

Questions such as: How did I get here? Where the heck am I? This only surfaced her earlier questions from the night before. Who's Kikyo? Who's Inuyasha? What's Goshinboku? What witch lady? Gods, she had so many questions…somehow she doubted she was going to be able to get them all answered, but that wasn't going to stop her from trying.

Getting up from her laying position, she noticed a tray with various foods. Actually, they were delicious looking foods. How did she miss that? Ah well who cares, it's free food.

A piece of toast, miso soup, and green tea later, she finally took notice of the little note that came along with the tray.

"I must be having a slow morning…I can't believe I didn't see that…" She slapped her forehead at her own obliviousness. Regardless, she picked up the little note and zoned into it.

Kagome,

I went out to target practice. Do not try and follow me. Stay in your room until I return. If you don't, I will be forced to use my weapons on you, and possibly use the trained dogs to maim you.

P.S. Kirara, the little cat inside the room, really needs a bath. If you could do that, that would be great.

Sango

Kagome snorted out loud. First she makes a threat, and then asks a favor? That's simply rude… Leaving the room and exploring sounded so much more worthwhile than sticking around to bathe a mutated cat. Besides, the place was so huge, there's no way Sango would be able to find her. She'd just be gone for a couple minutes anyway…she'd be right back.

Rushing out the doorway, leaving a puzzled-looking Kirara, Kagome paused a moment to allow her eyes to absorb the sights around her, much more than the night before. It was beautiful…there was still the odd dog-creature that she suspected must have been Prince Inuyasha, for who else would have their face hung up on a wall? Surely not a servant.

But aside from that, there was magnificent lights hanging down from the ceiling flickering back and forth across the glossy marble, though there was still nothing in the middle of the ballroom-looking area. Tall pillars of wood with little leaves carved around them surrounded the perimeter, as well as a long staircase leading to the top, where four long hallways were attached. It literally looked fit for a king.

Obviously, she was no longer in modern-day Japan. That or some culture that never grew…? Odd…

Turning another corner, she could only blankly stare. There were so many doors…each stood waiting to be opened. Curious, Kagome opened the door to the right.

Steamy air fogged over her eyes. It wasn't even a room…it led straight to dirt and a hot steaming pond. This sounded so blissful since she could look down and clearly see the dirt stains streaking against her once pale skin, all along her legs and arms.

"Okay…I'll stay in here five minutes and then I'll be straight out. There's no way she'll be back in five minutes." She whispered to rationalize her decision to take a quick dip.

Quickly, she scanned the room once more. There were definitely no people there. After she was finished undressing, she cautiously stuck her foot into the water.

"Ahhhhhh" was all she could manage to express how delightful this felt. Settling into the water, she felt the hot steam work its magic and relax every muscle in her body, as she continued to sink deeper and deeper. Mud floated up to the top, flooding around her in a dance. Her head was already lulling side to side out of the water...Kagome was so relaxed.

She wanted to stay in the hot pond of heaven for the rest of eternity…

Well, that's what she planned on, anyway. Until the door burst open with such a force all she could do was let out a girly shriek.

"Sango? What the hell are you doing here! I thought I made it clear that this was my pond and my pond only!" An irritated masculine voice reached her poor relaxed ears.

Kagome caught a glimpse of his face, only making out sharp amber eyes and startlingly silver hair before the guy turned around. She remembered the eyes and hair from the banisters. 'So, this is Prince Inuyasha…Well, that certainly explains why there's nobody here.' Kagome thought, though she couldn't fool herself; the voice, as well as the piercing eyes, scared her.

"Uh um-"Crap, what did Sango sound like again? Coughing, she tried her best imitation. "Well, you see, I did some target practice and I got real tired so I wanted to relax." Kagome mentally congratulated herself for her quick thinking.

"That's what the pond outside is for." He snapped, though with his back turned it didn't quite make the same impact. How was she going to get past him with him blocking the doorway?

"Y-yeah, uh, sorry; I'll be right out. Just keep your eyes closed I don't want you peeking anywhere!" Kagome commanded in her fake slightly deeper voice, though her knees betrayed her.

Prince Inuyasha scoffed. "As if I'd want to look at you. That's Miroku's job."

'Ooooh, Sango has a boyfrienddd.' Kagome almost started to giggle at her childish thoughts but refrained from doing so because it seemed out of character for Sango, not to mention completely random. Another person to add to the list of people she needed to find out…

"Yep, that's Miroku, always doing his job." Was all Kagome could think of, though the moment it came out of her mouth she felt instantly stupid.

"What?" She could've slapped herself for his voice was raised to exaggerated confusion.

"Nothing! Nothing!"

Creeping up out of the deliriously warm water, Kagome slowly edged her way closer to where the Prince stood, tapping his foot impatiently. She wrapped one of the lying towels on her small form. Kagome noted how there appeared to be actual talon-like claw growths coming out of his feet…another feature to add to his doggedness. 'Ok…I'm pretty positive I'm in Disney World...'

"Are you going nuts or something Sango?"

Kagome scowled, just as she was about to come ten feet away from him and the door.

"No, it's the hot water making me drunk; just step out of the way please." She faked Sango's nonchalant voice again, though it was on the verge of cracking from impatience. Seriously, why couldn't he just get out of the way? Sango could be getting back at any moment…or worse, he could turn around and see her.

"Whatever. Just…take whatever it is you take when it's your time of the month and leave me be." Despite the insult, he took a sweeping step to the side giving her a view of light shining through a crack in the doorway. That was hope enough.

Kagome coughed to cover up a derisive snort, choosing not to comment on the ignoramus in favor of leaving to go back to Sango's room.

The closer she came, the faster she walked, for fear of being discovered, until finally she made her way past him without so much as a glimpse in his direction; though her elbow scraped against the side of the door, she continued forward.

Pacing hurriedly down the hallway, she prayed her memory served its duty whilst picking a random door that seemed about right.

Kagome's chest heaved a mighty sigh of relief. It was Kirara, blinking curiously up at her-no Sango in sight.

"So long, dog man…" She whispered to the unknowing feline, who merely mewled and whipped her two tails.

She slumped to the floor, looking at the little pile of blankets in thought. For a murderer, Prince Inuyasha seemed rather bored…not kind by any stretch of means, but he didn't seem evil either…what an odd man…dog…thing.

Whatever the case that was just about enough adventuring she'd had for one day. Gramps was probably very worried about her. God knows what trouble he'd probably get himself into alone with any potions whatsoever. Kagome hated to admit it, but she already missed the old coot. She missed him and home a lot…Her questions would simply have to remain unanswered.

"I might as well take up the offer to think a bit," she informed Kirara, who shook her fur as if on cue. 'What a strange little cat…how fitting. The place is strange so why not have a strange cat to boot?' She toyed with the idea.

Grabbing the little cat, she peered around the room once more. No bath tubs.

Yep, there was absolutely no way on Earth this place was modern.

Sighing hopelessly, she patted Kirara's head, putting her back on the floor. "Maybe later I'll give you a bath." Probably not. 'I hope Sango doesn't get too disappointed,' Kagome thought, though as soon as the thought passed she didn't care because memory of Sango's threat soon followed.

The subject of her thoughts came springing into the room.

Sango was panting on her knees. Kagome waited patiently for her to begin.

"I thought…training…would never…end…" She then coughed, talking slightly clearer. "I'm so glad you're still here. I would've figured you would've walked all over the place without me!"

Kagome laughed nervously.

"Why would I do such a thing?"

"I don't know. But that doesn't matter. I came here as quick as I could. Kaede gave me a spell that would disguise your scent; you'll need to take it tonight."

Great. Another person she didn't know.

Kagome was very much tempted to ask who Miroku was, but couldn't afford to give way to where she'd been going.

Sango shoved a small pink bottle into her hands. It looked like medicine from back home. 'I think I'm gonna be sick…' Sango must've caught on from her facial expressions, because she gave a positive beaming smile.

"Don't worry about it! Tastes like mint leaves."

Kagome gave her a disbelieving look. She placed the strange bottle next to her pile of blankets.

"Thanks…how come you're helping me?"

"There are barely any women here. There's just Kaede and myself…I need a female friend. There's just so much testosterone a girl can take."

Kagome nodded, mentally formulating her next question.

"About Prince Inuyasha…how bad is he? He doesn't look so bad from the wall banisters…"

Sango shook her head. "No, he's not really a bad person. He's just bitter and resentful. I was fortunate enough to know him before he got that way….now hanging people for no good reason is the equivalent of sipping tea for him."

Kagome gulped, staring at her hands until they balled themselves into fists. "What a bastard!" She spit out finally. "Who hangs innocent people for no reason?"

Sango sighed, staring at the ground in uncertainty, as if weighing how much information she should give out. "Like I said, he's just bitter and resentful."

It was obvious there was more to it than that, yet again. But that explanation would simply have to do for the time being, since she wasn't willing to give out any more information.

"Let's go now. If we wait too long she'll nod off." Sango decided, clearly not caring for a reply.

She grabbed Kagome's hand and led her through the curiously long hallway, each a bit intriguing and leaving her imagination to get wild.

'I bet that one's the slaughter house.' Kagome bitterly humored herself, as she passed by each door. 'That one's the insane asylum…that one's a jail cell…that one's an abandoned warehouse…'

Kagome was beginning to get a bit suspicious as the hallway kept continuing, not to mention lazy for one can only think up so many horrible places. Luckily, just as she was about to calmly excuse herself to go back the way they came, Sango chirped, "Here we are!"

It was the first door that turned into the hallway. Sango banged roughly on the door, so much in fact that Kagome was surprised the door didn't split in half. 'Jeez…what is it with this place? Has nobody heard of politely knocking?'

As if to answer her thoughts, Sango leans over and whispers, "Sorry I have to do that because she's becoming a bit hard of hearing."

She nodded. That made sense…somewhat…

The sound of rustling covers and a couple grumbles reached their ears. Unsurprisingly, the door creaked open to reveal an older woman. What was surprising was the fact that the older lady adorned a black eye patch, which Kagome quickly took her eyes off of to not appear rude. In the back of her mind she wandered if other pirates lived there.

The old lady, whom she guessed could be no other than Kaede, gave them a steely look. Kagome felt her judging eyes scan her entire form, and feeling quite awkward, she pretended not to notice.

"So," Kaede started after a good fifteen seconds of awkwardness, "ye must be Kagome that Sango has been telling me about. Are ye part of some mafia? I've never seen clothes like that around here before."

Kagome blushed, shaking her head. "No ma'am. I'm from Japan, but this place seems…different than any part of Japan I know. It's very interesting, but I'm not quite sure where I am." Mentally she berated herself for not having asked already, but she just had so many questions.

Kaede let out a long, worn sigh.

"Come in. I've just been making some tea."

They took up the offer and stepped inside, Kagome looking about. It was a comfortable little place…a mat was on the floor, and little pieces of what appeared to be halfway finished quilts were strewn about the room. Old school, if not older, but still neat.

"Sit," Kaede commanded, shuffling into the room with a tray holding small cups of tea. They each took their respective one cup and slowly lowered to the ground, taking small sips of tart tea.

Kagome decided to break the silence. "So…where am I?"

Kaede took one last long sip, as if preparing for a long speech.

"You are at Prince Inuyasha's castle; he is the ruler of the East Kingdom. Where are you from?"

'Well that was anticlimactic,' Kagome thought, rolling her eyes at the short statement. She pressed on, disregarding her question. "I know, but what year is this?"

"The year is 1186." Sango answered. Kagome nearly spit her tea all over the little mat…

They both clearly picked up on Kagome's startled face and asked in unison what was wrong.

"I can't believe I'm in feudal Japan! Where I come from, the year is 2013." She probably should have known the time period she just didn't bother to pay attention in history class…

Kaede and Sango both exchanged a look of confusion.

"Then how on Earth did you get here?" Sango questioned.

Kagome thought back to the voice, and the odd pulsing sensation. "I'm not sure…I felt something pulling at me, a nagging pulse to go through the forest and I'm not sure what it was. Finally when I got to a certain point, I thought popped into my head and said Goshinboku."

Kaede gasped. "Ay…this cannot be…nobody's been able to get pass through the tree's barrier since…" She cut herself off.

"Since who?" She prodded.

They both took a sip of their tea, staring everywhere except her.

"Don't worry about it child. I would share it with you, but I'm afraid my life would be the price…" Kaede explained solemnly, Sango nodding in agreement.

"But it does mean one thing." she continued, "Ye must have spiritual power of some sort." Sango and Kaede exchanged a knowing look to each other, leaving Kagome to feel a bit left out.

Kaede hovered her hands over her stomach. "Yes…you do indeed have spiritual powers…they are weak however and could use some improvement but I see potential."

Nope. This lady's bonkers.

"What spiritual powers? I'm no monk."

Kagome rubbed her head at the area where a throbbing headache was beginning to form.

"I want to become a veterinarian…I'm pretty sure there's nothing spiritual about that."

Her words fell on deaf ears for as she looked at the two they were absorbed in a whispering conversation.

The headache became a bit worse. "Look, could you please just tell me the way out of here?"

Finally Sango perked up from her leaning position.

"How would you feel about becoming the castle priestess?" Sango ignored her inquiry.

Kagome opened her mouth and closed her eyes to answer, only to open them back up again and see a pair of raging amber eyes glaring knives.

"YOU LIAR!"