Disclaimer I own neither Inu Yasha nor Yu Yu Hakusho.

The wind whistled through branches of the surrounding forest to wrap around her, carrying the faint fragrance of magic. Closing her eyes, she took a breath. And felt. Youkai, a pale blue light not more than an hour walk away. She nearly jumped, then smiled. There was a weak barrier surrounding the energy, but it was there. The first touch that she had felt in this time that was so distinct.

"Kagome." Her eyes opened to a hand waving her face. "You okay? You've been making faces for the past few minutes." Souta's voice held a teasing note.

"Yes, this place reminds me…" They walked together for a few breaths of comfortable silent. Kagome had with small flashes of her companions walking with her.

"Well, I'm lost." Souta ruffled his map, that was crumpled and torn at the edges. "We should have just kept to the main road and we would be there by now." He shifted his pack from his back, searching the pockets for a map.

"I thought you wanted an adventure."

"I do." He was over eager. "I am just hungry."

"Here." She dug out a rice ball from her pack and handed it to him. "Genkai's shrine is little more west." Her eyes lit up. "I have a feeling."

They were climbing up dozens of stairs by the time the sun was setting. The shrine grounds were beautiful against the lavender clouds, and sun's golden glow framing the buildings. Stepping out of the shadows of the main building was an elderly lady no taller than some children.

The introductions only took moments, but Kagome could sense the weariness and wariness from her host.

"Is there anything else we can help with in return for staying the night." She passed the scrolls to Genkai.

The women hesitated, casting a glance behind her, and then studying Kagome for a long moment. As if she could see past her shields. After a moment, she spoke, a spark of hope in her eyes.

"Perhaps…"

"Okaa-san." It was a whisper in the bushes. Shippou could not believe it. His mother was there, after centuries of not seeing her, of not being permitted to even watch her grow. He hated time paradoxes, especially after Sesshomaru had made him learn all the physics and magic behind such. He had been in college forever and he hadn't been allowed to even play pranks. But it was for Kagome, so he endured.

But now, he sharpened his sight. The band of crescent moons was wrapped around her wrist. Time had settled, then.

He jumped to his feet, ready to rush out…

"Not so fast." The edge of his collar was snagged. Shippou promptly fell on his back. "If I can't rush over to greet my long lost friend, you can't blow our cover either."

"It's not like you don't sneak out to check on him every other night." Shippou muttered under his breath.

"Don't be a jealous kit." His companion winked at him. Only to hear the sound of Shippou jumping up, the fox wasn't even listening.

Shippou crossed his arms and pouted in the tree. His eyes never leaving the scene. He really hoped that Genkia wouldn't mention the priestess that was visiting her to them. Sesshomaru would have fit if that happened. As much as the thought amused him, Shippou would inform his uncle. He did not wish to share his mother with the spirit world.

Sesshomaru who had given him this mission to prevent him from rushing to check on his mother would have to suffer a smug Shippou. A smirk played across his lips, he would be the first to greet their miko. Just a little longer, she'll probably be leaving in the morning.

Kagome stepped in the room. Souta had fallen asleep the moment after they had finished the silent evening meal. He had kept up well, but it was easy to see how tired he was, reminding her of when she had first started wandering around the feudal ages.

She mentally tallied what Genkai had briefly spoken of her patient. A patient that would not wake and the hospitals could do nothing for. The man was in a comma and they had hope that the shrine would produce a healing aura.

When she saw him, she stepped back. Had she seen him before?

It was almost an image from a half-remember dream, in one of those eerie dreams that caused her to seek out her past. The vivid shade of red…

His skin seemed to be tattooed with the very same symbols that were on the walls. Beside him was kneeled a young maiden, whose a cool stream of youkai was the same she sensed earlier. Only the barrier about it was stronger now, more adept at hiding. Her hands scrubbed gently at the some of the markings on his hands. On occasion, she would swipe at the sweat coating his face, damping the crimson of his hair. He looked a little about how Shippou might, but the hair color was wrong.

"Can I help?" Her voice caused the ice youkai to jump. Her red eyes widened.

"Um…" The girl hesitated, her hands twittering in her lap. "You are Genkai's visitor?"

"I'm a fellow shrine maiden." Kagome offered a smile. The girl was sweet.

"I'm Yukina." Yukina returned the smile and offered her the bowl with the cold rag in it. They had so few visitors other than the detectives, but it wasn't unusual for another priestess to visit every now and then. Just for them to be allowed to see Kuruma… What had Genkai seen?

"Kagome." She nodded politely as she nestled down beside Yukina.

Kagome patted the man's brow with the cloth, taking in his mixed aura. It was surprisingly weak, almost as if it were barely connected to the body. You are a mystery. Perhaps she didn't need Sesshomaru's library to solve her dreams after all.

They passed a few minutes in silence, before Yukina announced that she would get some tea in slight need of a break. Kagome immediately took up his warm hand, willing some healing energy towards him. Casting a gaze on his smooth face, why was he connected to her nightmares? Wake up. Her call went unheard.

What had happen to him?

"Wake up." Her voice was a bare whisper as she leaned in to his ear, letting more of her healing energy pour in through her hands. If she could just strength the bond to the aura and the body. She did not notice that she swayed in weariness from the lack of sleep and the drain of using energy. It was only when she felt, the slight dizziness that she realized she used too much.

Sesshomaru would have her head for such carelessness.

Then her world went black

She was cleaning, her hand covered in a thick sticky red. The other clasped a bucket full of water. It was the last letter. Something stirred in the back of her mind. She turned.

Her breath gasp. Shippou? Her lips moved but no sound came.

The ruby of his hair stood in stark contrast with paleness of his skin. His emerald eyes were open yet unseeing. His arms were wrapped around his knees, as he leaned on the wall. The wall flickered, a silhouette of a man, light against the endless darkness that stretched beyond, could be distinguished. Then stopped, once more just a solid white.

She could feel the intensity of emotion. It was not a simple fear that welled in the eyes of the unseeing. But terror, knowledge of something so great and so horrible. The wooden bucket fell from her hands as she moved towards him to do something. Hearing echoes of another horror in memories forgotten.

The clattered resound in the room, the water spilling out. Crystal clear.

She jerked at the noise. The man before her leapt. His back on the wall, his whole of his body was trembling. He lifted his head and met her eyes.

His mouth moved, yet no sound came. Yet his eyes were pleading with her. She moved forward, trying to find a way to soothe the stranger. He was…

The image flashed of the patient in Genkai's temple.