Chapter 3: Outer Mechanisms

Disclaimer: Inuyasha and all related characters do not belong to me and are the property of the genius Rumiko Takahashi.

AN: Sesshomaru's appearance won't be until a little later. Much stage setting and addition of those little facts that will be brought back up later need to be done first.

On Saturday morning Kagome got up extra early and had most of the day's chores done 10:30. That took care of the work, now for the grounding. While helping with the breakfast dishes that morning she had noticed some of the herbs her mother used for healing were low. And it just so happened she had seen some of those exact herbs growing not so far from where she had been playing with Shippo. Guessing that her mother would be too busy with local people coming to her for remedies to common summer maladies, she made her move.

"Okaa-san?"

"Yes Kagome?" Her mother answered a bit distracted.

"I saw that you were low on some of your herbs and was wondering if you wanted some of the fresh ones I had seen growing in the woods were I was playing? I could right now."

Azumi turned to look at her youngest, the one who always tried hard to do what her family expected of her but almost always wound up blazing her own trail, trouble or not. Those blues eyes were just so expressive and right now they were full of anticipation. "That would be lovely dear." She answered, but as Kagome turned to run off Azumi stopped her with "But I would be more comfortable if Souta or Kikyo went with you at least."

Thinking quickly Kagome answered "But mama Souta is busy with Kohaku and Kikyo is meditating right now."

Azumi thought for a moment. Her husband, who was home recently, was out with his father now and she had several more prescription to fill for the day. Kagome was a mostly responsible child and with the shrine so close there weren't likely to be any demons so nearby. "Ok then, but be sure to take your tanto with you and come right back."

"Hai Okaa-san." Kagome gave a small formal bow, then went to grab a basket and her tanto and ran off.

When she got there she didn't see anyone and wondered if she had missed Shippo. So she started her search for the herbs and her friend when she suddenly got a funny feeling just before someone grabbed her arm and pulled her down to the ground. Scared she was about to scream and reach for her dagger when a small hand clamped down on her mouth and green eyes flashed into view.

Shippo quickly whispered "Quiet Kagome or you'll scare them."

She held still and Shippo released her and pointed straight ahead. Getting to her knees she peered around him to see a female deer and her twin fawns. Smiling she turned to Shippo who motioned for her to follow him away and with one last look she did.

"Sorry to have scared you were walking right for them." And then because he couldn't resist he added with a bit of pomp in his voice "Your greatly diminished human senses wouldn't have detected them in time."

Straightening up she playfully smacked him on the arm, "Yeah well I was distracted looking for you and lucky to that I recognized you before I drew my dagger."

"Hah I would have been too fast!" He replied smugly "But it's cool that you have your own weapons. I'm still waiting for mine"

"Well it's not really mine." Kagome admitted. "This is for when I practice."

"I knew you must have had some training!" Shippo exclaimed.

"Of course I have." It was now her turn to add an air of importance into her voice.

"Are you going to be a Guardian?" He asked quietly.

"I don't know yet." She answered although pretty darn sure her family would expect her to follow with family tradition. "Are you going to be a Sentinel?"

"There so cool, and I've always thought about it…but I'm not sure yet either."

Guardians and Sentinels could just be so violent at times it saddened Kagome to think that her and her friend might just someday be on opposite sides.

"So what's with the basket?" Shippo asked interrupting her gloomy thoughts.

"I got in trouble last time for wandering to far so I've been grounded to the house. I'm only suppose to be out here getting herbs for my mother." She explained.

"Then I'll help to make it faster and after we can have some fun. What do you need?"

She showed him and after filling the basket they took an hour for themselves to play. Kagome kept track of the time and had to leave soon enough but before leaving they made plane to meet up again. Each parting ways happy with the friendship and yet cautious enough to keep it a secret. They trusted each other but not what how their families would react. After centuries of war before the truce the foundations for a tolerant world were still very unstable. And for as young as they were both children knew this from their very first educations.

With such superstitions and hurtful feeling boiling under the surfaces it was just too easy to open old wounds, and crimes against the other race were still highly prevalent in most of the country. This is what led to the formation of the Guardians and the Sentinels, organizations of highly trained and skilled human and youkai who over saw the protection and insured equality of their respected races. If an offense was committed against any individual they investigated and intervened. They were responsible for bringing those who committed such un-peaceful acts to justice.

The Guardians usually consisted of teams or groups of Miko, Monks, and Taijia, the number of a team depending on how 'complicated the problem' was. But the combination of spiritual powers with that of the warrior class was found to be most effective when dealing with a rampaging demon, especially the powerful ones. Those with holy power were now being trained alongside the Taijia so as not to leave them so exposed if their power was drained in a fight. Being a Miko or Monk could be very prestigious for a human as the centuries of war had severely decreased their numbers. If a human was born with such a gift they were almost always destined to become a Guardian. And of these Kagome's family were among the very best in the history of the Guardians.

The Sentinels were set up somewhat similarly to the Guardians but they were Youkai. Stronger taiyoukai were at the core of the organization with the lords of the four corners dominating the board of actions. They too sent out teams of youkai on regular patrol and special assignments.

There was still a government system for day to day laws and living with a mixed human and youkai presence. But it had slowly seemed to shift towards the Guardians and Sentinels as the ruling systems with the last words these years. And more often than not that last word ended with the death of the offending party before they could even be brought to justice. And although they were suppose to work together both organizations remained somewhat distrustful and aloof with each other.

Both organizations had become so powerful that there were rumors about cover-ups and pay-offs between them to avoid another war. With as much dislike as there was between the two races just about everyone could agree that another war would be more devastating than this troubled ruling system.

And into this world it seemed Kagome would be headed. But for now what she knew was homeschooling, weapons training, and chores. She was happy to be able to spend so much time with her family but she was now ecstatic to have someone her own age to play with as well. Both her brother and sister being older and with spiritual powers were attending a school system and had brought home some of their friends on occasion. Kagome's parents though it best that she remain in home school until she was older for safety reasons. Being without spiritual powers and who here family was by reputation she could easily be made a target. And so not having the chance to make friends outside of family, she was overjoyed to have found Shippo. And the two couldn't get along any better.

The two were such close friends in fact that when Shippo's parents followed their tight lipped son one day to see where he ran off to so quickly and so often, in the direction of a human community no less, and found out his secret, they just couldn't break them apart.

This is certainly not to say everything went off without a hitch. His parents had been horrified to see him playing with a human child so close to her community. They had been ready to snatch their son away and dispose of the little human girl, standing there scared yet defiantly with a tanto her hand, when Shippo's pleading and hasty explanation of how the girl had saved him made them reconsider. They spared the girl but then promptly took Shippo home for punishment. Not only had he been hiding this new playmate's identity but he had been coming within a dangerous distance of the other humans, humans who probably would not take to the idea of a demon playmate for one of their own so lightly. If something had happened to him they might never have know what.

Now ensured of their son's safety they had to endure his endless pleading to see Kagome again. Finally consenting after days of separation, they chaperoned him. To her credit being as young and worried at first over their presence, it didn't seem like the little human had told anyone else about them. Though ill at ease for those first few days with them she gradually loosened up and so did they. It was about another week before Shippo's parents trusted her enough to let them play alone again with their constant supervision.

Just as she was to Shippo at first, Kagome was now to them. She was an anomaly. This small child didn't seem to hold any prejudices toward demons in general despite the world and education she was growing up with. Curious about her they allowed Shippo to invite her into their home. A little nervous at first, her excitement at seeing something and going somewhere where not even her older sibling s had ever been soon won her over and she proceeded to make herself comfortable within a couple of visits. These visits were always under supervision as their own community had been none too pleased with a human child in their midst.

Shippo's parents were determined nothing would happen to the girl that could potentially result in a fight with the neighboring human settlement. They knew this was somewhat of a fine line they were involving themselves in but it was also a good opportunity to foster the idea of peaceful relations within the future generation. And although they allowed Kagome to come to their home sometimes, going to her house was not something they would ever allow of Shippo, especially after the revelation that she was receiving a warrior's training at home. Kagome too never invited her curious friend over either, agreeing that her family was not apt to be as kind as his own. She dared not say anything about their spiritual prowess and was sure to carry a spiritually masking fuda with her.

And so it was that a whole summer passed in this manner. But unfortunately all good things must end as is the nature of the world.