They headed out the door in the opposite direction of the maze. He seems more relaxed than he was yesterday... Kagome bit her lip wondering if he would be open to talk about his bizarre attitude the day before. Kagome fiddled with her fingernails that had started to grow long. She had always wanted longer nails but decided against it. The thought of breaking a nail was terrible. Also, shorter nails were easier to work with a bow.

Kurama glanced back at her, "Are you nervous about going back home?"

"Not really. Though it has been a while since I've been back there," Kagome shrugged. They walked down a worn trail that looked like it was made by some type of animal. Occasionally, a twig or some leaves would snag on the kimono and they would have to stop. Kurama would help pull out the thorns so it wouldn't tear the fine silk.

Frustrated at the kimono, Kagome sat down on a large rock. "Why is it that I had to have this silly thing? Didn't you guys have anything else I could have worn?" she huffed.

"I think it looks wonderful on you. It brings out the blue in your eyes," Kurama mused.

Kagome turned a bright shade of red at the compliment. She wasn't used to compliments, only insults when she was with Inuyasha. He chuckled and held out a hand to help her up. Kurama had on an all-white outfit with black clasps on his shirt. It was an innocent gesture so Kagome placed her hand in his.

He pulled her up with a smirk, "Ready to go?"

Kagome brushed herself off and nodded. They grabbed their packs and headed off toward the East Gate. She couldn't wait to see her younger brother, her mother, and her cat Niko. Niko had probably torn her room apart by now. She didn't like it when Kagome was gone for a long time.

The forest started to come alive as the sky lightened. Kagome and Kurama had been walking at a good pace for the past hour with only a quick stop to pull thorns out of Kagome's outfit. The dirt path they were walking on had eventually opened up enough to fit two adults side by side. A calming quiet had settled between the two as they walked side by side.

"Kurama," Kagome looked over at him breaking the silence.

"Yes Kagome?" He smiled clasping his arms behind his head.

She stepped over a small log that had blocked part of the path, "How much longer do we have until we get to the gate?"

Kurama sighed, "Not much longer I hope. We normally run the entire way so it only takes us a few short hours."

Kagome tugged at her sleeves while she pursed her lips in thought. "It shouldn't be too much longer then. The sun looks to be high noon and we've been walking at a steady pace the whole time with little to no stops," she thought to herself. They followed the split in the path to the right when they happened upon a fork in the road.

In the distance a dark object appeared in their view, growing larger the closer they approached it. Kagome assumed this was the gateway. By the time they had gotten up to it, the gate towered over them menacingly. The frame of the portal was finely detailed which portrayed various demons writhing and screaming in agony. Kurama grabbed Kagome's hand as she started toward the frame, mesmerized at the thought of touching it.

"You don't want to do that," Kurama whispered. His voice snapped Kagome out of her trance and he pulled her closer as they walked up to the gate.

"What are you talking about? We just got here Kurama," she asked thoroughly confused.

He squeezed her hand but continued to hold it in a firm grip. "Do not look upon the frame of the gate again. That is how it traps those that are now a part of the frame. This gate is fed by the souls it mesmerizes and traps when they draw near. You are only caught by the gate when you touch the frame."

Kagome nodded, focusing her attention on the middle of the gate so her eyes wouldn't wander to the frame. They stepped through the swirling black and deep purple vortex gate and entered into Feudal Japan. The air smelled different on this side of the gate. The few short days she had been in the Spirit World, the air had a slight metallic smell. Feudal Japan was different. The smell here was fresh, unpolluted, and smelled of home.