- Chapter Three -
Before his very eyes

Disclaimer: If I had been Rumiko Takahashi, the show wouldn't even be named Inuyasha. It would be named Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands. But then again, I'm not her, so all I can do is write this fanfiction and enjoy it! :)

A/N: Did you ever notice how Kagome's family never really seems worried about her? I mean, it's not like Inuyasha's that reassuring, insulting her and boasting all the time instead of telling her mother that she shouldn't be worried. So I thought I'd change that. It should be a shocking and terrifying experience for Souta, watching his little sister vanish like that. I wanted to show that in this chapter.

Music that inspired me for the part about Souta:
Kishi Ou No Hokori - Kawai Kenji (Fate/Stay Night) – such a beautiful piece, melancholic and it still seems to offer you comfort. One of my very favorites from Kawaii Kenji.

Come To Me – Vangelis – very appropriate, don't you think? Love the flutes in this one.

The lullaby in this chapter is Oyasumi (Goodnight)

Present Day – Japan, Tokyo, Higurashi Shrine – 2011
She was gone. They heard it in the wails of the little boy, crying for his sister to come back. They both bowed their heads, feeling the boy's pain adding up to their own.

"It has begun, hasn't it?" the short man with the black hair asked.

The other nodded, leaping from the Goshinboku and walking back to their car. "Yes. It has begun." He sighed, stopping for a few seconds to listen to the melancholic sobs.

Looking over his shoulder, the short man asked, "Should we… tell them?"

His face was grim. "No. We should not interfere."

Tears were running down the little boy's grief-struck face, hugging the fat cat to his chest as he cried for his older sister time and again.

"Kagome! Kagome!" he cried, but when she did not respond, he jumped into the well, frantically using his hands to dig in the soft dirt. "Where are you, sister?" he sobbed, wiping his wet face with his dirty hands. "Please… Come back!"

Buyo was head butting against his leg, trying to cheer him up, but he didn't even notice. After resting for a few seconds, he started digging again, unwilling to give up.

Grandpa Higurashi had been reading a book under the Goshinboku when he heard someone weeping, the wails echoing through the well. He ran towards the well house with surprising speed for his age, and looked down the well.

In the darkness he could see his grandson sitting on his knees on the bottom of the dry well, crying desperately for his older sister.,

"Souta? What's wrong, boy?" he asked with a worried expression on his wrinkled face, wondering what could have happened to make his grandson weep like this – weep like he never had before, not even on his father's funeral.

Souta's hands were dirty, as was his face, but he seemed unable to tell his grandfather exactly what was wrong, muttering something about a 'monster', 'blue light', 'Kagome gone' and 'Buyo'.

Using a sturdy ladder, Grandpa descended down the well, lifting a trembling Souta, who was clutching Buyo and hiding his face in the white and black fur.

Holding Souta, he climbed up the ladder again, and carried his grieved grandson to the kitchen.

Nodoka was making dinner, humming a lullaby she had made up years ago, until she heard the heartbreaking sobs of the little boy. She immediately took over Souta from his grandfather, embracing and comforting him like only a mother could.

Rocking him back and forth, she whispered, "Shh… It's all right, Souta. I'm here now. Mommy's here."

With her sapphire eyes full of sorrow, she looked at her father-in-law, silently asking if he knew what was wrong with Souta, but he shook his head.

When Souta had calmed down a little, she asked him. "Now, tell me what's wrong."

Souta sobbed once and nodded, searching his mind for the right words. "Well, w-we were l-looking for Buyo, and the o-only place we hadn't searched yet was the well. T-then we heard something scratching and the w-well exploded." Nodoka glanced at her father-in-law, who looked a bit guilty himself. Was this the influence of the stories he had told her son every day?

Then she looked back at Souta, and she shook her head. No, the boy really wouldn't lie about something like this. It had to be the truth. "Something c-came out a-and grabbed Kagome!" Souta sobbed. "It was a monster!"

They were silent for a while. Grandpa was the first to speak up, his voice higher and squeakier than normal. "Are you sure, Souta? What did the monster look like?"

"W-well, it was huge, and it's b-body was that of a snake. It had a h-human head and torso, and a mouth that stretched from ear to ear." Souta said, shivering as he remembered the smile of the hideous creature that had abducted her sister.

"A hebime…" muttered Grandpa, scratching his head.

Grandpa patted Souta on the back. "Don't worry, Souta, I'm sure that, wherever Kagome is now, she's there for a reason. We shouldn't worry."

"But if it makes you feel better," he whispered behind his hand and winked, "I'll try to reach her with my spiritual powers."

Souta bobbed his head and grinned, wiping his face to remove the last tears, his eyes red and misty.

He squirmed when his mother tried to clean his face and hands with a tissue. "Do you think she'll be alright, mama?" he asked her, still not entirely convinced about Kagome's safety.

"Oh, dear, I'm worried too. But I'm sure she'll be alright." she said, hugging the boy tightly. "I was so scared, mom."

A crestfallen grandpa came back from the well.

"What happened, grandpa?"

He smiled sadly, "It didn't work. I couldn't reach her."

"Maybe she can't be reached?" Nodoka said, smiling hopefully.

Grandpa nodded. "Maybe."

That night, Nodoka allowed Souta to sleep in her bed, something she hadn't done in years, singing a lullaby when he woke up from a nightmare.

She sang, her angelic voice rocking him to sleep.

"Nighttime has come,
Gone is the sun,
Dream sky is spun,
Stars, one by one... Oyasumi, hush my love,
Oyasumi, hush my love,
Oyasumi, hush my love,
Hush, hush, hush.

Oyasumi, close your eyes,
Oyasumi, close your eyes,
Oyasumi, close your eyes,
Sleep, sleep, sleep."

Sengoku Jidai – Japan, Edo, Kaede's Hut – 1511
The High Miko, Kaede, had insisted that he stayed with them in the hut so she could talk to him and the ningen girl.

The hut was not that large, consisting of a small kitchen and eating area, and the closed off quarters the miko slept. Sesshoumaru was uncomfortable, unused to being so close to humans.

He flinched when he heard the sounds of the village men repairing the huts damaged by the enraged demon Mistress Centipede. He looked out of place, an air of regality surrounding him while he sat across from the little ningen girl, who was frantically looking everywhere but at him. A hot cup of tea was steaming in front of her, but she hadn't touched it yet.

Immediately after the fight with Mistress Centipede, Kagome had asked for a change of clothes – it seemed she really hated looking like a whore in this era. Now, she was dressed in miko's garb – a chihaya – that had belonged to the dead miko Kikyou. Now she really looks like the dead miko, he thought, wrinkling his nose in disgust. It still smells like her.

He could sense that she was nervous. Kagome was not used to the silence, having grown up in a very loud household. She tried not to look at the stoic Lord in front of her, fingering her hair.

Sesshoumaru hadn't answered her question yet, looking deep in thought – appreciating her silence.

The miko apprentices were different though, they were giggling and whispering things behind their hands Sesshoumaru wished he couldn't hear. When one of them offered him some of the stew they had eaten before Mistress Centipede's intrusion, he declined with an expression of disgust on his handsome face, seemingly offended they had even suggested it.

They were desperate to capture his attention now, and were scooting closer and closer to him. He glared when he heard the ningen girl giggle at their boldness, exposing his fangs and growling at the two apprentices until they shrieked and ran away into the night.

It was very uncomfortable, sitting with the young girl without Kaede nearby. The High Miko had left with Inuyasha when he had come barging in, demanding to know where Kikyou was.

A few minutes ago…
Kaede had been bandaging the wound on Kagome's side – one that, surprisingly, she couldn't heal with her miko powers – when suddenly, the door was thrown open. Inuyasha, who had been sulking in the Goshinboku up until now, stalked inside and growled, "Tell me where Kikyou is!"

Kaede's happy expression immediately vanished, her eyes suddenly looking hollow and full of grief. "My sister, Inuyasha, is dead. She outlived yer sealing for only a few minutes." she said, her eyes becoming misty when at the word 'dead'. "Fifty years have passed, and I am an old woman now."

"Your… sister? Are you Kaede, the little brat that used to be with her all the time?" he asked her, his eyes widening when he saw the eye patch. "Dead? Kikyou's… dead?"

His lower lip trembled, and Kagome gazed at him with pity in her heart as he suppressed the tears that were threatening to fall from his misty eyes.

Sesshoumaru muffled his amused snickers with his sleeve.

This Sesshoumaru's brother is so… weak. Love is for sentimental humans, not for demons.

"Not that I… care…" he said, trying to look like he hadn't loved the miko.

"But, I know now, that Kagome here is my sister's reincarnation."

"Reincarnation?" Kagome said, pointing at herself.

Kaede nodded. "Ye resemble her, she who was the last Keeper of the Jewel. But yer power feels strong, the same as hers, maybe even stronger. But it is clear. Ye are her reincarnation."

"B-but she can't be Kikyou's reincarnation!" Inuyasha yelled, "She's way too weak!"

"Now, now, Inuyasha." Kaede said, throwing a stern look in Sesshoumaru's direction, silently telling him not to humiliate his brother by teasing him about his feelings now. He nodded, and she grabbed Inuyasha by the sleeve of his Fire Rat Robe, dragging him outside to show him Kikyou's grave so he could pay his last respects to her.

"Kikyou?", Kagome said, remembering her grandfather's story, "Wasn't that the miko that pinned Inuyasha to the Goshinboku?"

Sesshoumaru nodded. "It was also the woman this Sesshoumaru's pitiful half-brother fell in love with."

"He's your brother?"

"Half-brother. He had a human mother." was all Sesshoumaru told her about the matter.

But she could read his mind, and immediately understood why he hated the boy so much. "He was the reason your father died…" she whispered, suppressing the pity in her eyes. She knew Sesshoumaru didn't want any sympathy, especially from a human.

"Hn," he nodded, looking a bit irritated that she, yet again, read his mind without him even noticing.

Sengoku Jidai – Japan, Edo, Kaede's Hut – 1511
Kagome was fidgeting with the sleeves of her rough jacket, unused to the heavy cotton. She was glancing at Sesshoumaru from under her bangs, who was looking utterly bored.

She drank her tea, exhausted after today's fight with Mistress Centipede. Suddenly, she started talking. "Do you know why…-"

"-you can read this Sesshoumaru's mind?" he guessed. "He is not sure. But this Sesshoumaru's thinks he knows the reason." He paused, seemingly lost in thought.

Kagome had to suppress a giggle when she noticed his strange manner of speaking. Must be because he's a Lord, she guessed, and because he has a superiority complex. Still, it sounds ridiculous.

Suddenly, her eyes grew wide. Wait a second – don't I know that name? Sesshoumaru – Grandpa was telling his tale this morning. Could it be… the same?

She tried to remember how his story went, but couldn't remember it – she had been concentrating on the far-fetched concept of magic and youkai at the time. She vaguely remembered something about a girl. I should ask grandpa the next time I see him, she thought, I'll look for a way home tomorrow.

"You know the jewel attracts demons. But do you know why?"

Oh. Yes. He's going to explain why I can read his mind.

Now that she thought about it, she really didn't know. Why does the jewel attract demons?

She shook her head. "All I know is that it can multiply a demon's power."

"Exactly. But how do they know it can?" he asked, not waiting for her reply, he continued. "They can sense it, yes, but there's something more to it. The jewel calls out to every demon, whispering promises of powers and fulfilling their hearts' desires. There are only a few demons who can withstand its promises and remain sane."

Whispering promises of power… Kagome thought. It figures. Who can ignore that?

"When you attacked Mistress Centipede today, you apparently amplified the jewel's inner voice. That only happens when the jewel is used by a being in the possession of significant power."

"So that's why Centipede wanted the jewel – the inner voice?" she said, her eyes widening. Significant power? Since when do I…

You are a miko with unusually strong powers, Kagome, the voice in her head said, But with power comes responsibility. And choices.

Sesshoumaru nodded. "Hai. And Inuyasha wanted it to become a full-blooded demon. This Sesshoumaru was the only one who could withstand the promises of the jewel, fighting off his inner beast the best he could."

"Inner beast?"

"All youkai and hanyou have one. It is the demon part of us, that tries to take over when in danger, or in this case, when it was promised to get something he desperately wanted." He flinched at the memory of his unwilling beast, glancing at Kagome to see if she had spotted his moment of weakness. When she seemed to have noticed nothing, he continued. "But this Sesshoumaru could fight it off until…"

She suddenly understood what he was trying to say. He was obviously not used to admitting a weakness. "Until I unknowingly activated the jewel?"

"Hai. The beast in this Sesshoumaru went wild when he heard the louder voice of the jewel." he admitted, grimacing at the thought. He touched the blue crescent moon on his forehead, his pale eyebrows pulled down in an angry frown.

He hated being weak. It was not in his nature, and he hated his beast for acting so unmanageable, dreading the moment the jewel was activated again.

"What exactly does this have to do with me reading your mind?" Kagome said, studying his golden eyes with a curious look on her face as she remembered the purpose of this conversation.

He was irritated that she had yet again interrupted him. "Patience." he growled, "This Sesshoumaru is almost at that part."

She nodded and waited for him to continue, observing him as he rubbed his blue marking one more time and then slipped his arm in his white haori.

"When the jewel was taken out of your body," he continued, glancing at her as she shivered, remembering the hebime biting into her tender flesh, "the jewel lost contact with you, and thus your powers – its voice grew soft again."

She bobbed her head, clutching the bandaged wound in her side. "Inuyasha was the first one to come back to his senses – partly. This Sesshoumaru thinks it was because he only has half a beast to fight off."

Nodding, she said, "That makes sense."

"Then he convinced you to undo the spell on him and remove the arrow. When you did – perhaps you can remember – the arrow exploded, and all that was left was a few pink sparks."

He touched his mark again, and Kagome lifted a black eyebrow, noticing that he had done this three times since they had started talking. "Does this… have something to do with the blue moon on your forehead?" she said, using her head to point at the crescent moon.

His eyes widened in surprise. So she had noticed? "Hai. At the time, this Sesshoumaru was crouching under the Goshinboku, trying to… fight off my beast. One of the sparks landed on This Sesshoumaru's mark. It started purifying his mind."

"What do you mean… purifying it?"

"Putting the beast at ease." he said, remembering his surprise when his beast's had suddenly stopped talking, and the blissful feeling of being in control of his own body again.

Humans really don't understand anything, he thought, frowning at her.

She nodded, taking out the jewel from her pocket. So I was the one who brought him back, she thought, and I was the one who caused all of it, too, she thought, smiling bitterly at the jewel in her hands.

Do not blame the Curse of the Jewel on yourself, child,the woman said reassuringly, It has chosen you, and many demons will come after it. It is not your fault.

Putting the jewel back in her pocket, she turned to Sesshoumaru. "And you think this has something to do with me reading your mind?" she said, her sapphire eyes full of confusion.

He nodded, and reluctantly stated, "This Sesshoumaru thinks you forged a link between your and his mind. But you can only read his. This Sesshoumaru cannot read yours."

"I see. Well, can you block it? Close a mental door or something?" she said, shrugging a little.

They were just practicing that when Kaede came in without Inuyasha, using her Saigu-Yumi as a walking stick. With a deep sigh, she sat down next to Kagome.

"And to think it's only just beginning…" she groaned.

"What do you mean?" Kagome said, taking the bow from Kaede and laying it down in a corner of the hut.

"Worse than Mistress Centipede will come… far worse, now that the Sacred Shikon No Tama is back among us."

Sesshoumaru nodded. "Hn. That one today was just a lesser demon."

"Lesser demon? I barely stayed alive!" Kagome exclaimed, looking a bit offended.

"Even lesser demons are… dangerous to humans."

"Humans will come after it too – some humans, the ones that are the most malevolent, can hear its voice, too. Only the jewel has the power to make their pathetic wishes come true." Kaede said, shivering when she remembered the humans and demons that had threatened her sister at the time.

"But the most dangerous youkai," she continued, "are the ones that can shape shift to look like a human," she looked at Sesshoumaru when she said that, "and the ones that can conceal their aura."

"Hai. We inuyoukai don't really look like humans," he said, pointing at his silver hair, "but we can conceal our auras easily if we train ourselves long enough."

Kaede sighed and poured herself and Kagome a cup of tea. "Well, at least we know Inuyasha's not a threat any more. He still wants the jewel, but if he comes to close ye just say the word and..." she struck the table, and her tea nearly went over the edge of the cup, "BANG." she laughed.

She sipped her tea. "By the way, Lord Sesshoumaru, do ye not want the jewel for its power?"

He growled, standing up with his claws flexed close to Kaede's throat.. "How dare you suggest that this Sesshoumaru would want it! He earns his powers by training, not by ingesting a jewel," he spat, baring his fangs.

Kagome pushed him back again. "Easy, boy, she's just making sure you're not after it!" she said.

Kaede smiled, a knowing look in her one good eye as she watched the girl.

He nodded, and stated, "This Sesshoumaru will stay with you until you can protect the jewel. He is sure that the High Miko will make you her apprentice and teach you how to use your powers." He looked at Kaede as he said that, a questioning look in his eyes.

"Of course," she said, smiling. "I'll be honored to teach the Keeper of the Jewel."

Kagome nodded, too exhausted to start protesting and declining her offer – she really needed a good night's rest.

"Drink your tea, Kagome, and we'll find ye a place to sleep." she looked at Sesshoumaru, but he shook his head.

"This Sesshoumaru will be sleeping on the roof tonight," he told her, "He prefers sleeping under the stars."

She nodded and led a yawning Kagome to the sleeping quarters. "Tomorrow, we'll start yer training," she promised.

Just before Kaede closed the door, she could hear the girl whisper, "I do hope my family's all right, I'm sure they must be worried about me…"

"I'm sure they are alright, youngster. Don't ye worry about them," Kaede said softly, closing the door.

Lord Sesshoumaru was already gone when she entered the kitchen. Sighing, she began clearing the table. "It's going to be a long day tomorrow…"

Sengoku Jidai – Japan, Edo – 1511
Sesshoumaru was lying down on the roof of Kaede's hut, studying the stars. Something was not right, and he could feel it. One of the trees near Kaede's hut was full of black birds that were cawing, pretending to be crows.

But Sesshoumaru knew they weren't crows. They were youkai, all of them, but he couldn't sense which one of them was their leader.

He snorted. Clever. It has concealed its aura. Kaede told the girl this would happen.

Suddenly, he leapt up and into the tree, surprising all the youkai in an unguarded moment on their side. Using his Lightning Whip, he killed most of them, but he knew their leader was hiding somewhere else.

Yes, it was one of the first of many youkai to come after the jewel. He would not sleep tonight.

Taking his place as guard on Kaede's roof again, he thought, It's a good thing this Sesshoumaru doesn't need as much sleep as a human.

Sengoku Jidai – Japan, Edo River – 1511

Kagome was walking alongside the edge of the river, unknowingly tailed by Sesshoumaru. She was yawning and rubbing her eyes out, still trying to wake up. At the crack of dawn, Kaede had woken Kagome, stating that 'all miko rise with the sun'.

"Agh…" she groaned, "I miss them already," she said, talking, of course, about her family. She had always been homesick, even after one day without them.

Well, there must be some way to get back, the woman reassured her, her kind voice full of sympathy, maybe you should ask the High Miko Kaede for help?

Kagome nodded. Yes, she would do that. Spinning around, she started running towards Kaede's hut. "Kaede! Kaede!" she called, finding her near her hut, training the two more advanced apprentices.

"Oh, Kagome. There ye are." she said, waving at her young apprentice.

"I need to know how to get back," she cried, "I want to tell them that I'm alright."

Kaede smiled. "I thought so. Well, I think ye'll be able to go back through the way ye came here."

"The well?"

Nodding, Kaede pointed towards Inuyasha's Forest. "It's that way. Just ask the well to bring ye to yer time, and I'm sure ye'll immediately find yerself there."

"Thanks!" Kagome said, and she spun around and started running in the direction of the forest, but she changed her mind, and stopped.

"Can I come back?" she asked.

"Of course ye can. The well will recognize ye as the Keeper of the Jewel now. I'm sure it will grant ye access to this and yer time." When she started running again, Kaede yelled, "Wait, child!"

Turning towards the trees, she shouted, "Sesshoumaru, I know ye're there!"

With a flash of silver, he appeared. "What do you want of this Sesshoumaru, miko?" he grumbled.

"Eavesdropping is not proper, ye know." she said, winking.

"Hn?"

"Accompany Kagome to the well, will ye?" Kaede said, rubbing her aching back. "I'm not as healthy as I used to be, ye know."

Sesshoumaru nodded, and joined Kagome as she started walking to the forest, this time for real.

They were jumping over tree roots when they were ambushed by a couple of bandits.

"Here they are boss!" one of them said, rubbing the scar that ran through his right eye.

"The girl's got the jewel, even I can sense it!"

The biggest one of them, apparently their boss, started charging at them, a sword in his hands. But there was something odd about the way he moved, like he was a puppet being controlled by its master.

"Hand over the jewel!" he growled, his laugh suspiciously like that of Mistress Centipede. Sesshoumaru sniffed the air and wrinkled his nose. Rotten meat.

The man is… dead? Is he being controlled?

"Stand back, Kagome! He's dead!" he warned the girl.

"Dead?" she asked, her eyes full of dread, not realizing this was the first time he used her name.

"Yes, dead." he stuck the man with his Lightning Whip. "I think he's being controlled by a demon."

The dead man proved his point as he swung at one of the bandits.

"Hey, boss, watch out!" one of them cried, only nearly dodging his blade.

"What are you doing, boss?"

"Yeah, boss, we're not the enemy!"

The last one couldn't dodge the blade, and received a large gash in his belly.

Their boss swung his sword wildly, taking down the trees surrounding them but not striking Sesshoumaru even once.

"The boss's gone mad!" one of the bandits cried.

"What's wrong with him!" another asked.

While Sesshoumaru was busy fighting the huge dead man, Kagome took the wounded man's arm and lay it on her shoulder, supporting him. She motioned for the bandits to follow her.

"You've gotta get out of here!" she shouted, and the bandits nodded and quickly followed her.

When they were a few meters from Sesshoumaru and the dead man, she told them about their boss. "Your boss is dead – Sesshoumaru," she used her head to point in his direction, "thinks he's being controlled by a demon that's after the Sacred Jewel."

They all nodded and one of them said, "That would explain the sudden need to go after the jewel."

Another one of them just stared at the jewel, which hung around her neck as a necklace. Suddenly, he jumped up and grabbed it.

Watch ou-! She could hear the woman scream faintly, but the voice seemed to be gone without the jewel around her neck. Before she could even blink, the man that had grabbed the jewel was gone, flying in the sky as a craw youkai with three red eyes, carrying the jewel in its beak.

"Hey, give that back!" she cried, punching the air with her first. "Sesshoumaru!" she bellowed.

In an instant, he was there. "What?"

She pointed at the craw. "H-he got the jewel. The big man was just a distraction…"

Stupid wench lost the jewel, he grumbled mentally, so weak.

He nodded, and, not even knowing why himself, took her along, using the fur on his shoulders to carry her with him as they flew after the crow youkai.

Oh. Apparently he can move the Mokomoko, Kagome thought. Is it his… tail?

Sesshoumaru noticed a horse with a bow and full quiver of Hamaya - Sacred Arrows - hanging from the saddle standing a few meters away. When he passed by the horse, he snatched the bow and arrows and gave them to Kagome.

"Shoot it." he grumbled, nodding towards the crow youkai.

"B-but I'm just a beginner!" she cried, "I won't be able to hit it!"

Scowling, he thought, Can't even fire an arrow… Humans…

He snorted. "You are the reincarnation of a powerful miko. Of course you can hit it!" Through his mind, he showed her images of Kikyou fighting off demons with her bow, the emphasis on her excellent skill and agility.

"Now, quickly, shoot it before it sw-"

He groaned. "It swallowed the jewel. Just try to hit it, ok?"

The crow exploded and transformed into a much bigger bird, its claws even longer than before.

Kagome sighed a deep sigh and tried to remember what her archery teacher told her. "Okay. Nocking, Drawing, Anchor Point, Release and Follow Through." she repeated over and over like a mantra. The four main steps in archery. She missed the arm guard and the finger tab she had practiced with.

She placed the shaft of the arrow on the arrow rest, like she had learned in archery class.

Then she placed her index finger above the arrow, and the next two fingers below, taking the string between the second joint of her fingers. She raised the bow and drew the string, concentrating on using the right position, in which she had to form a T with her body.

Out of the corner of his golden eyes, Sesshoumaru watched the girl as she prepared to shoot. "Relax your fingers," he instructed, "Now, try to imbue the arrow with your miko powers. Imagine them flowing through your fingers and into the arrowhead."

Her face scrunched up in concentration, and after a few seconds, the arrow began to glow a light pink. "That's it. Now aim and shoot when this Sesshoumaru tells you to." he said, the corners of his mouth lifting in a smirk as he flew closer to the crow demon.

"Shoot!" he said, sounding rather calm. Apparently, he didn't think the crow was such a threat.

She released the arrow, and with a twang, it charged at the crow, a pink light enveloping it. Inches before it hit the crow, it fell back.

Frowning, he thought, As was expected from a human. They are good for nothing.

She heard him, of course. "Hey! I tried my hardest!" she yelled, waving her fist in the air.

"Again," Sesshoumaru said sternly. "Put more pressure on the string this time."

She nodded and placed another arrow in the arrow rest, imbuing it with her miko powers again. "Hit the mark!" she whispered, and she released it again when Sesshoumaru nodded.

With wide eyes, she watched the arrow as it flew right at her target. When it hit the demon, the crow exploded in a flash of pink lights.

She and Sesshoumaru gasped when they saw the jewel floating in the air, the arrow embedded in it and slowly breaking its barriers. A wave of nausea hit her as a crackling sound broke the silence. She realized it at the same time as Sesshoumaru. The jewel was shattering!

A pink light lit up the sky, so bright that Kagome had to avert her eyes. Sesshoumaru grunted and shielded his eyes with his hand, but started moving closer to the jewel.

With an explosion and a loud crack, the jewel broke into a million pieces, the shards flying into all possible directions. Sesshoumaru dashed forward and caught a few, cutting the flesh of his palm in the process. He tried to catch more, but there were simply too many.

Kaede could see the lights coming from the forest of Inuyasha. "Kagome!" she mouthed, mounting a horse and hurrying towards the forest.

There she found Kagome sitting on a root of the Goshinboku, whimpering and crying that she had shattered 'it', and Sesshoumaru, who was staring at the shards in his palm, looking a bit dazed himself.

"Lord Sesshoumaru," Kaede said sternly, "What happened?"

"A… demon got the jewel. She shoot it, and…"

"And?" Kaede asked.

"It shattered."

"Shattered?" she breathed, reaching for the shards in his palm. "These are shards of the jewel?"

He nodded, and pointed at the cuts in his palm. "This Sesshoumaru tried to catch them, but he was unable to get all of them."

Kaede walked over to Kagome, embracing the crying teenager and giving her the sharp-edged jewel shards. "A-and I was supposed t-to protect it," she sobbed, "and look what I did to it!"

The other miko came running towards them, looking equally as astonished as their High Miko by the lights they had seen.

"'Tis not yer fault, Kagome," Kaede said, shushing the girl. "It could have happened to anyone."

Turning to Sesshoumaru, she said, "I think it's best if she went home now."

"Yes, yes, just go now, ningen." he said, scowling while he rubbed the cut on his palm, infusing youki so it would heal faster.

Insolent wench. The jewel will be a danger to all of Japan now.

"Aren't you afraid she won't come back, Kaede?" one of the elder miko whispered behind her hand.

Kaede shook her head. "The jewel will attract her, for she has carried it with her for years." Turning towards Sesshoumaru again, she said, "There will undoubtedly be demons in there. Ye should make sure the jewel is safe before returning here."

He groaned, but nodded. "Alright then. This Sesshoumaru will make sure the jewel is safe." he stated, looking at the crying ningen girl. "But how will we get back to her time?"

"But there are no demons in Tokyo!" Kagome protested, scowling a little.

How am I going to explain this to mum, Souta and grandpa?she wondered.

Now that she had a few shards of the jewel back, the voice was back, too. Shouldn't be so hard, the woman said, sounding rather disappointed in Kagome, they already believe in magic and youkai, right?

Kaede ignored her and said, "I'll accompany ye to the well."

When Kagome had calmed down a bit, Kaede pulled her up. Together, they walked to the well. Kaede took one of Kagome's hands in her own and laid it on the edge of the well. "Now wait for something to happen to ye, child." was all she told her.

It was the voice of an old man that spoke to her. Who wants to pass?he asked, his cough echoing through her mind.

"It's the voice of an old man," Kagome said, raising a black eyebrow. "He's asking me 'who wants to pass'."

Kaede smiled. "Well, then, introduce yerself!" she said, pointing at the well.

"Kagome Higurashi, Keeper of the Sacred Jewel, and…" she looked over at Sesshoumaru, motioning for him to place his hand on the edge of the well. "Sesshoumaru, Lord of the West. He didn't believe me when I told him there are no demons in Tokyo. He wants to come along to protect the jewel shards." she grumbled, shrugging a little.

Alright then, Kagome and Sesshoumaru, you may pass,they heard him croak. Jump in!

It's Lord Sesshoumaru, Sesshoumaru thought, frowning at the well.

"Yes, yes," Kagome said, tugging on Sesshoumaru's sleeve. "We all know you have a superiority complex. Now, jump, will you?" she said, and, dragging him along with her, she hopped into the well as a bright blue light enveloped them, both of them traveling through the barriers of time and space.

Sesshoumaru flinched when he was assaulted with the scents and sounds of the twenty-first century. He could hear the unfamiliar honks of cars and exhaust fumes whirling in the air. Wrinkling his nose, he grumbled, "I do not like the stench of your time."

But Kagome didn't even hear him, a brilliant smile gracing her features. "I'm home…" she whispered, closing her eyes and listening to the sounds of the honking cars.

It was almost dusk and Souta had been sitting in the well house since he had come back from school, when suddenly, a bright blue light announced the return of his sister.

"Grandpa, mama, Kagome's back!" he yelled over his shoulder.

With a cry of joy, he jumped into the well and allowed his sister to catch him. "Sister, sister, you're back!" he chanted over and over. "I was so worried…" he sobbed, hiding his face in her raven hair.

Then, he noticed her miko clothes. "Why are you wearing those clothes?" Souta asked, taking in the sight of his sister in a chihaya. "You look like a medieval priestess!" he exclaimed.

"Shh… I will explain it when grandpa and mom are here." she said, ruffling his hair.

Suddenly, Souta looked at her companion. "Who's that?" he asked, his eyes as wide as saucers.

A/N: First, I want to thank everyone that reviewed the first two chapters. Much thanks to: XxdarkvampirelovexX, Blackmoon OniOokami, BMalone93 and shadow zombie!

Poor Souta. He really was worried. Next chapter, he'll act like he wasn't worried. You all know how fourteen year old boys are, trying to act like their all grown up while they're not. :)

Don't get any ideas, people. Sesshoumaru does not /magically/ like Kagome or humans. He still thinks they're weak. He's just concerned about the jewel. *nods*

Tell me if you liked this chapter. Did you like the changes I made? Sesshoumaru's attitude? The well man? – I made that up to cover a major plot hole, because in the manga/anime, Kagome can travel through time if she possesses a jewel shard, but in the end, when she doesn't have any, she can still pass – now why is that?

And who, just who, are the mysterious people that have been spying on Kagome and her family?

I'm going to skip Yura (I will probably mention her) because I've never really liked her. Instead, we'll just skip forward to… Aristocratic Assassin, Sesshoumaru. Ooh. More Inuyasha. Sesshoumaru will probably end up with Tessaiga in this fanfiction. How, and why, you'll find out soon.

Still looking for betas, PM me if you're interested.

- Erliane

Final word count: 7064