Sesshomaru came home from school and found his father pacing in the living room, mumbling something about a prophecy and Kagome to himself.

"Father?"
"Ah, Sesshomaru! You know about Kagome?"
"She left before school. But she promised to be back soon." Sesshomaru answered, a bit taken aback by his father's behavior. He was normally not that disheveled and chaotic. His thoughts must have been in an even more chaotic state. And that was far too unusual.

"She promised you?"

"Yes."
"I think she might not be able to hold that promise if we don't help her out."
"What do you mean?" his silver brows furrowed in irritation.
Mr Taisho ran a hand through his long hair. "I mean-"
"I'm home!" Inuyasha yelled from the front door. "What's the matter?" he asked as soon as he entered the living room. His father looked frantic and disheveled, eyes opened wide. Sesshomaru stood next to him, an enormous seriousness in his whole expression, worry marking his eyes.

"It's about Kagome." their father said before sinking down on a chair and gesturing to his sons to also sit down.

"What's with Kagome? She wasn't in school today. Or did you see her, Sesshomaru? Sango wouldn't answer me when I asked." Inuyasha looked in between his brother and father. Did they know something he didn't?
"Father?" Sesshomaru asked cautiously.

Mr Taisho heaved a long-suffering sigh. "I'll better start with the very beginning."

"The beginning of what?" Inuyasha asked irritated.

"Many centuries ago, the world was plagued with wild demons. A very strong priestess fought against demons her whole lifetime, her name was Midoriko. In the end, to safe the world from an enormous demon, she sealed it and herself and several other strong demons into a jewel. But that jewel was so powerful that other demons used it to strengthen themselves. The world was cursed by this jewel and a few generations long it was kept with strong priestesses, to keep it pure and away from demons. But that could not be accomplished and a stronger demon named Naraku stole it and nearly gained world domination."

"What does that have to do with Kagome?"
"Keep quiet, half-breed!"
"A young, very powerful priestess fought against Naraku with some companions and saved the world, destroyed the jewel and finally brought peace. But the jewel's power was hidden away and stored in different persons over the years. Naraku emerged again and searched for those persons, trying to finish what he couldn't back then. Our dear Kagome is the power-keeper right now. Different from the other keepers though, she is able to fully access that power. There is a prophecy about the safe-keeper that will decide everything."

"The prophecy is about Kagome?" Inuyasha asked slowly.

"Yes." his father affirmed. "And Naraku and his partner have taken Kagome away. They threatened her since she was small, killed her family and now threatened to kill everyone she loves if she doesn't cooperate. So she chose to go with them..." He cursed silently. "I wasn't able to protect her or help her in any way."

Sesshomaru's eyes had widened and he breathed deeply before asking his question. "What says the prophecy in detail?"
Mr Taisho's brows furrowed. "It isn't complete, we found only parts of it. But it says that the deciding power-keeper will be the reincarnation of the finaling priestess, the young priestess who fought against Naraku back then. Naraku will try to use her and the power she possesses to gain world domination. The question is if she will permit it and if he is even able to use it and her."
"What do you mean with that?" Sesshomaru asked cautiously, while his half-brother had sunk into shock. Kagome was in the hands of some villain that might hurt her. She did it voluntary to protect everyone.

"There is a part missing, so I don't know exactly what it means. But there is something about losing the personality, becoming someone or maybe something different. If she reaches full access, she transforms into someone – something – else. I doubt that Naraku will be able to use her to his wish then."

"I see... then she will take care of it herself."
"No. The possibility that Kagome will return are – following that description of the prophecy – nearly zero. She will not turn back. Which means she will just go over to the next world as this powerful being. She herself would not return. Because of that we have to go and save her. She cannot reach full access. We don't know what will happen then. Will she act according to the priestesses who were also banned into the jewel or will she act as a demon? We simply don't know. But most importantly we have to rescue her."

-...-

Kagome came back to consciousness. After conversing with several deities, she was exhausted, mentally and physically. She moved her legs and hissed. Sitting in the same position for several hours had not been good for her body.

After changing into a different sitting position, a stray tear ran down her cheek. She bit her lip and wiped it away. Though she knew what to do and how to act now, the past still hurt and could not be forgotten.

Her parents' faces ghosted before her, together with her grandpa's and the face of her little brother. He had still been so young when they had mercilessly killed him. But revenge wasn't the right way. Fate would get them soon enough. She sighed and moved towards her things by the door. The holy remnants of her ancestors glimmered lightly in her hands as she placed them into the small shrine. They glowed stronger before completely losing their light to the room, providing a gentler and more holy air and atmosphere, making Kagome more comfortable.

The remnants had been a string of sacred beads, parts of a priestess' robe and an arrow, all of these things connected to the miko that had fought against Naraku long ago.

She exited the room and smiled sad but softly as she quietly made her way through the hallway to her room, where a warm, soft bed awaited her together with the promise of dreamless sleep.

-v...v-

More than ten days had gone by and there was no trace of Kagome. Nothing.

Sesshomaru's patience slowly reared it's end, she had said soon. She should have come back by now. Dark thoughts overcame his mind more often, and he clung to her promise. She had promised she'd return. And he would hold her to it. He didn't want to think about what would happen if she broke that promise.

Inuyasha was more grumpy than ever. He worried, and worried and worried. Especially because he didn't know much, except that Kagome had gone with some rather evil guy that would use her powers and then kill her – and that she did it only to protect everyone. Sango's silent sorrow and Kohaku's complete silence regarding the people he had seen unnerved all Taisho men. And their father, Touga? He was using all his sources to search for her or any trace of Naraku. But nothing had come out yet. No special searching agency, no highly technological researcher could find a trace.