Chapter 2

The sun had yet to come out when Kagome was awoken out of her sleep. Her heart pounded in her chest as she jolted upright, her eyes wide in panic.

"What was that?" She thought, sweat dripping from her brow. Something brushed up against the barrier she had placed around the shrine. Something that didn't feel too friendly.

Without a thought Kagome threw the covers off of her and made her way to the twins' room. The energy flare she felt from them caused her to panic even more. When she swung open their room door, Hidemi was fussing as her brother had a look of irritation on his face. Whatever brushed up against the barrier did so once more causing the hairs on Kagome's arm to raise on end.

Before she could send out a warning flare the intruding energy disappeared. The silence was broken by Hidemi's cries and Hideki attempting to follow behind her.

"There, there…" Kagome started cooing, grabbing the blankets off their cribs. "...mommy's here to fight off the whittle monsters." She swaddled Hidemi first and then Hideki, making sure they felt safe and secured. Once back in her room she situated some pillows along the walls and settled them down on her bed. Humming softly, she curled up next to them and watched as their eyes drifted closed once more. Slumber soon found her as the comfort of her children lulled her to sleep.

In the morning, Kagome groaned as she felt a pair of hands on her shoulders shaking her awake.

"Five more minutes." Kagome mumbled as she curled up even more under her sheets. But as memories of last night flooded her mind, she jolted up, causing her mom to jump.

"Mom?"

Mrs. Higurashi placed a finger to her lips, stopping her from saying anything more. "There's a young man here waiting outside to see you..he says he comes in peace."

Kagome looked at her mom before looking at the twins. Her mother looked concerned which worried her even more. At this age her mother didn't need any surprises or uninvited "guests" coming to visit her. Without question, she got up from her position.

"I'll handle it. Stay here with the twins."

Mrs. Higurashi nodded as she took Kagome's spot on the bed. Kagome lightly waved her hand over them, casting a concealment spell over the twins to conceal their energies. Placing a barrier up around the room so that they were safe, she made her way downstairs.

Opening the front door stood a tall male with brown eyes and short brown hair. He wore a casual outfit, a simply long sleeved white shirt that stopped mid-thigh and had an asymmetrical slit on the right side. His pants and boots were both black and plain. One particular thing that caught her attention was the initials for junior written on his forehead.

As she studied him, he cleared his throat causing her to focus on him. "Higurashi Kagome I presume?"

Kagome gave a nod of her head. "Yes, that is me. And you are?"

The male in front of her eyes lit up as he smiled. "My name is Koenma. I'm the ruler of the Spirit Realm that you my lady helped to create."

Kagome's eyes widened as she gripped the handle of the door tightly. "Ruler of the Spirit Realm?" She thought to herself. "I'm...oh my god! I'm standing before a ruler of another Realm in just my nightgown!"

Remaining her composure while panicking on the inside, she smiled and welcomed him inside. "Please..make yourself comfortable. It's been a while since I have had anything happen that resembled the life I previously lived.

Kagome closed the door behind her as he walked in and guided him towards the island in the kitchen. Setting some water to boil, she sighed as she turned to face him again.

Koenma sat on the chair staring at her in amazement. She chuckled as she caught this look and he straightened himself.

"Pardon me for me staring it's not every day you meet a legend that looks so…" Koenma drifted off trying to find the right words.

"...Normal?" Kagome finished, as she grabbed the two cups and teabags. "Behind every legend is just an ordinary man or woman."

Koenma agreed with her as she presented him with some herbal tea. Picking up his cup, she watched as he took a sip before speaking once more.

"Indeed. Ordinary you may be Ms. Higurashi but your accomplishments are extraordinary. But that's not why I'm here."

Kagome sat down on the other side in front of him and crossed her arms after straightening her nightgown. "Of course, let's hear it then."

Koenma sighed. "The former King, my father was found to be corrupt in the end of his reign. Cleaning up his messes to set things in order I found a peculiar file that he had kept close to himself concerning the three realms."

Kagome listened intently as she took a sip of her tea from her cup, her nerves beginning to get to her as she didn't know where he was going with this.

"I don't know what my father was doing with this file but with the appearance of a high class demon spotted on our radar in your vicinity it is means for concern."

The atmosphere had immediately became thick with tension. On one hand Kagome felt relief that the presence of this ruler and the sudden appearance of a demon meant that demons were still around in their own realm. But on the other hand this was beginning to become too much.

"This...this is a lot of information to sit and mull over." Kagome commented as her hands began to shake a bit.

Koenma sighed deeply and watched the young woman before him. "I know. Also you don't have to hide your mother and your kids."

At that moment Kagome froze as her eyes widened but then she laughed to herself in disbelief as she realized that there was no use hiding that fact. "Of course you would know…you see everything don't you?"

Chuckling to himself, Koenma scratched the back of his head. "Well not quite everything. If I did it would make my job easier and I'd always be on vacation!"

In the background Kagome's cellphone went off and she quickly excused herself to get it. Standing up himself, Koenma straightened his shirt and turned towards her.

"We still have so much to go through but I'll be in touch again soon. My break is up! But be careful Higurashi, we may have a problem on our hands."

Kagome looked up from her text message and back at Koenma. "How will I get in contact with you?" she asked curiously.

Koenma opened up a portal before her and grinned. "By this trusty communicator of course!" Before Kagome could respond, she dropped her phone to catch the round communicator he tossed at her. When she looked backed up to thank him he was gone.

Mrs. Higurashi, who came out with the twins, looked over at her daughter as she came down the steps.

"Mom…you may have to get use to my old life again." Kagome sunk down into the couch, looking at her mother in disbelief as she took the twins.

Mrs. Higurashi sighed but smiled a gentle smile. "Oh dear it's not an old life. It was always your life you were meant to live."

Kagome watched as her mom went in the kitchen before looking down at her babies her mother's words sinking in her head. "The life she was meant to live." She thought as she began to feed them.

By the time Kagome had fed, cleaned, and prepped the twins for their naps while her mother helping her clean in between, it was late into the evening when she had time for herself. Deciding to check her phone, she decided to send a text to her fellow acquaintance only to realize she never responded to the message he sent her previously.

I'm sorry! – Kagome

She placed a light blue sweater on and some loose fitted jeans as she waited for a response. Kicking on some sneakers, she jogged down the stairs and headed out the front door. When she got to the Goshinboku Tree, she heard the familiar notification of her phone.

Would you look at that? The young maiden decides to respond. – Yusuke

Kagome scoffed at Yusuke's message and began to type away on the screen.

In case you forgot it's Ka-go-me. And would you have me not respond at all? – Kagome

She didn't even have to wait long before her screen lit up again. Once seated in front of the tree she read his message.

Yeah, yeah. Ka-go-me. The offer still stands from earlier. Do you want to meet up at the park again? Little tykes included. – Yusuke

Typing a response on agreement on impulse, Kagome dropped her phone down next to her and held her face in disbelief.

"Get your act together Kagome. Human interaction is needed you know! What would Hiei think if he saw you this way?" She thought to herself. Her brown eyes shifted to look up above her at the tree and she could only sigh deeply.

"What has become of me?" she spoke softly to herself, her words seeming to drift into the air. "Where are you..Hiei?"

The presence of the tree behind her seemed to give her comfort as she leaned against its trunk. Her phone forgotten as her mind drifted off into its own world.