A/N: Hey guys! This note didn't exist with the original post of the chapter, but I'm adding it now with the revised version. I just wanted to thank everyone who has followed this since The Principal of Drowning, and I wanted to let you know that you can expect more of this (hopefully) really soon!

Thanks to everyone who's read this story so far, and reviews. I love hearing from you guys!

Edited: 05/13/16

Chapter 2

Embers

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It wasn't as big of a surprise as she'd thought it would be—running into Itachi and Kisame again.

She'd kept tabs on them for just over two months after their final encounter on the night of the full moon; long enough to gather that Itachi had suffered from memory loss at the hands of Naraku's forceful possession and expulsion from his body. Kisame showed similar symptoms. After she was certain they weren't still on her trail, she'd continued her journey from country to country—this time, with a new goal in mind.

Her initial wanderings before meeting Itachi and Kisame had been aimless. Her only goal was to help people, and isolate herself so Naraku's influence could never poison another ever again. The evil hanyou was going to be an issue, it seemed, until he was purified from the jewel.

The balance was tipped too strongly towards the darkness with the presence of him and all of his demons from the Sengoku Jidai that had been left trapped within the depths of the Shikon. Short of sealing herself into the jewel to maintain balance, the only way Kagome had discovered to control the jewel was to stave off Naraku's possession when his confines were weakest—on the night of the full moon.

After travelling with Itachi and learning of the supposed 'original' Kagome Higurashi, a curious idea instilled itself in the back of her mind.

A clue, or perhaps some powerful method of purification must exist in this world that could help Kagome banish Naraku's youki, so that she could protect and maintain the balance of the jewel once more. Since leaving Itachi and Kisame to their own devices, Kagome's quest had begun anew; one to discover the holy secrets of the shrine from Itachi's story.

It had taken her just over half a year to discover the whereabouts of the remnants of the shrine, just outside of Waterfall Country. It had taken another month and a half to find her way into the wreckage, sorting through various dummy rooms and traps, and then through the remnants of books and scrolls alike to discover if there was anything that could potentially help.

In her searches, Kagome learned the true story of the Sage of Six paths and the demons that once roamed the land freely. She marvelled at how differently the story unfolded compared to the first life she had lived, wondering vaguely what her role in this world was supposed to be. The shrine, it seemed, was dedicated more to history than it was to actual 'purification'; an unfortunate conclusion.

Eventually she came across a weather-worn journal. At first she couldn't place it, as much of the writings had actually faded away from the pages that were exposed to sun, rain, and wind. She discovered, however, that the writings were still somewhat intact closest to the centre of the book nearest the spine, and deduced that the book had belonged to the rogue Mist ninja Itachi had told her. Aside from day-to-day life, Kagome learned about a place called the Valley of the End, a famous remnant of a world long past—the site of a monumental battle that had helped shape the ninja world into what it was now. There was a complex of caverns that wound deep into the mountain from behind the waterfall, beneath the two statues of the legendary ninja.

It was all interesting enough by itself, but none of it was particularly helpful…that was until Kagome discovered a holy scroll on sealing, and the theoretical sealing of a demon into an object.

The discovery changed the direction of Kagome's search—to the art of sealing, fuinjutsu. Her research took her across the land to the sea, after the tales of a village dedicated to the sealing arts. Upon making it to the coast, Kagome was dismayed to find that the Village Hidden in Whirlpools had long ago been destroyed, and there were no records that remained amongst the ruins. Following rumours, Kagome continued to search for a way to seal a demon, following the stories of the jinchuuriki.

Now almost a year later, Kagome felt that she had the stirrings of a plan; now all that was left to do was to find someone who could teach her the sealing technique. Then, when the jewel was at it's weakest and Naraku tried once more to break free, she'd be prepared.

Throughout her travels, she'd learned the last known sealing master, Jiriaya, the Toad Sage, was tied to Konoha. The hidden village had the greatest resources on sealing scrolls and the jutsu as well. She'd immediately set her sights on the area. A festival had had been ongoing for the past few weeks to celebrate the changing season, and became the perfect cover to allow her into the city.

Despite feeling relatively unmoved by seeing Itachi and Kisame again, she was certainly curious as to why they were in the city. It'd been over a year since she had last checked in on them, but to her knowledge there hadn't been any fallout since their last encounter. They didn't appear as the two ninja she remembered, but she could feel their energies, as familiar as anything she'd encountered in this world.

After finishing her performance, she quietly gathered the tips he had earned from the crowd and made her way towards the fringes of the village.

They were following her.

"Where the hell is she going?" Kisame grumbled under his breath as he hastened to cut through the milling throngs of people.

"When will you ever learn to stop asking redundant questions?" his partner snappily replied. "If I knew the answer, we wouldn't be following her. She'd be coming to us."

The hint of sarcasm in Itachi's voice gave Kisame pause. That moment of hesitation was just enough for the woman's petite figure to disappear around the corner, blocked from their sight by a brightly decorated booth.

Goddamn it.

Kisame cursed every god he could think of under his breath, and ducked down the nearest alleyway. Itachi's presence moved further away down as he continued down the main street, following the same path the woman had taken.

"I guess we'll cut her off then," he muttered to himself, as the small alley opened up into a small but deserted back street.

"Cut who off?" a merry voice questioned, catching completely off guard.

Spinning around, Kisame found himself face-to-face with the very woman they'd been tailing.

"…what? How did—" was his stuttered, eloquent reply.

Kagome's blue eyes twinkled with laughter as a smile played about her face. She absentmindedly dusted off her new summer kimono, the action drawing the nin's attention. If he saw her small grin, he didn't say anything.

"Do'ya like my new kimono?" she asked suddenly, twisting her hips slightly for effect.

Kisame abruptly shut his mouth—no sound was coming out. How did she sneak up on me? And what kind of crazy woman just randomly asks about her damn kimono…?

He eyed her slowly, actually looking at the light blue fabric that covered her figure, complimenting her eyes nicely. It itself was plain, but the obi was a deeper, darker blue. Upon careful inpection, he noted that there were delicate details sewn into the obi, portraying an underwater scene looking up at the surface of the water. It was accented with coloured stitching and imagery of orange and white koi.

"It's…very nice?"

"Is that a question, or a comment?" Kagome raise her eyebrow at the ninja. When he didn't immediately answer, she continued.

"You know, you destroyed my last one…so I figured it was about time I got something new. I like the pattern a lot, 'cause koi remind me of you and all…" she trailed off with a smirk.

"…fish-face."

There was a brief tang of longing and familiarity when the nickname settled itself in his brain—yet even as he felt the oddest sense of deja-vu, his blood boiled.

"What did you call me, you pipsqueak?" he growled.

Kagome just laughed, covering her mouth politely with one hand.

"Ahh," she smiled. "That'll never get old." Then her countenance took on a more somber expression, and she adjusted her shamisen where it was strung across her back.

"I know you and Itachi are looking for me again," she began, startling him with her change in demeanour. "Although I'm not entirely sure why. If you haven't already realized this, I can't be around you. So I'm going to politely have to ask you to back the fuck off."

"What are you talking about?" he snapped back. "Just who do you think you are?"

The nerve of this woman! Speaking about us with such familiarity…I liked her better in my dreams when she couldn't speak at all.

Kagome couldn't entirely hide her surprise at his comment, her eyes widening marginally. Curious, she mused. The memory loss seems to have affected him rather severely as well…more than I expected.

Kisame watched the expressions flit across the woman's face with no small sense of confusion. She hid herself with the skill of an expert ninja, yet wore her expressions and emotions plainly.

What a pity. Kagome looked at Kisame sadly. He really doesn't remember.

She stifled the disappointment that welled within her throat, covering it with a smile. Kisame eyed her warily. Ignoring his question, she continued on.

"Well, it's clear to me that you're even less of a threat than I originally expected." she waved her hand in careless dismissal.

Kisame glared at her, wishing that they were anywhere but in the middle of enemy territory so he could slice her down where he stood. The woman seemed to sense his thoughts and laughed again. The sound echoed in his head, memories of his dreams coming again to the forefront of his mind.

"The last time you tried to take me down, it didn't work too well for you, fish-face. Now, like I said—do me a favour and keep your distance, yeah? Remember that if I'd wanted to see you again, I would have sought the two of you out. I don't know why you and Itachi are after me again, but if you know what's good for you, you'll leave well enough alone."

Kagome called some of her ki into her fingers.

"You may not remember me," she said quietly, walking her fingers up the side of his arm and letting her powers spark against his skin. "But I'm sure you remember this feeling."

Kisame felt his skin tingle peculiarly where they touched, but the instant she'd touched him near his wrist, his body was frozen and rendered fully immobile. What kind of jutsu is this…

"Don't forget what I said." she warned. "Leave me be. I'll put you both down as many times as I have to."

Then she tapped him on the forehead.

The last thing Kisame remembered was the vision of her deep blue eyes, burning into his own with a look deeper and full of something that he couldn't quite put his finger on. Then, his world pitched sideways as he slipped into unconsciousness and slumped to the ground.