A/N: I'm sorry :( (That's all I'll say)
CHAPTER 10
All this time of searching for the idiot, and there he is! Walking at a leisurely pace in the middle of the street, with a wacky grin on his face. The sky was quickly darkening, the approach of night upon them all. Renji walked up to Ichigo with a frown on his face.
"Oh, hey Renji, nice evening huh?"
Renji's frown deepened, "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Huh? You've got some nerve, what's your problem anyway?" he asked getting angry.
"There you are, you look like a sick duck or something."
"Did you tie that bandana around your head too tight or something? You're extra weird."
"Shut up! Where have you been? The whole damn soul society is looking for you!"
"Uh…studying?" Ichigo answered, almost confused, "What do they want now?"
"Likely story," Renji said sarcastically, "All I know is that both Captain Hitsugaya and Captain Kuchiki personally came to see you and Rukia."
"Well what the hell did they say?"
"I was getting…" he started to yell, but was interrupted.
Two exceptionally large spiritual pressures were approaching them fast, quickly putting a stop to their conversation. Both recognized the signature of the spiritual pressures, Byakuya and Toshiro were here now.
"Come." came Byakuya's cold voice.
"Where to? I do have homework you know."
"Perhaps you should have thought about that before you decided to disappear." replied Toshiro.
Ichigo gave them his usual glare, but followed them to Urahara's shop. Once seated on the floor with the others silence loomed before anyone thought to break the silence.
"What is about to be said is confidential. Only the Captains have been made aware of this new situation." Toshiro started.
"It is said that the soul society has been the holding place for a great Lord." said Byakuya.
Ichigo had a sinking feeling in his stomach.
"To most, it was thought of as only legend. A mere myth to entertain the young lost souls. However, the myth did have truth behind it."
"Get on with it already, what happened." said Renji, losing his patience quickly.
Hitsugaya glared at the red haired vice captain, "He's escaped, or disappeared more accurately. His spiritual pressure has been suppressed this whole time while being obtained in the Soul Society. But recently there was an outburst of energy that everyone could feel. There was a large flare-up before it simply vanished. Gone before anyone could even figure out what it was."
"Who is he?" Ichigo asked the obvious question.
"He was known as the Lord of the Western Lands, Touga Inu-no-Taisho." stated Byakuya.
"I always knew the day would come when this would happen." interrupted Urahara, "You all will need help if you are wanted to contain him again."
"We know this, but we have a feeling that Ichigo has already found him. Specifically by the look on his face." observed Toshiro.
Ichigo quickly turned pale. It was just the beginning of a possible relationship, his first romantic relationship. And already, he was being asked to break her confidence.
(((00)))
She was still in too much of a daze to think of what she was doing. Walking around, head in the clouds, trying to figure out what the hell was going on. There were so many things to figure out. It was like there were too many pieces for a large puzzle, and she needed to figure out which pieces didn't belong.
"Ah, Kagome would you help me?"
She looked up, a blush coming quickly to her cheeks, did her grandfather see them? "Y-yeah gramps?"
"Could you polish this blade while I go prepare a different rubbing solution? I can't seem to get this one spot here clean. I want to make sure Lady Kadiri's relic stays intact."
Kagome smiled brightly, "Of course grandpa." She said taking the small dagger from the older man's hands.
She looked at the dagger, searching for the tarnished spot. The little weapon was a beauty. It looked to be either gold-plated or a completely golden blade. She could see that it was still sharp. The hilt was encrusted in brown leather, with what looked like natural diamonds and emeralds to match the pattern weaved on the blade itself.
The supposed dagger of an ancient demoness who harnessed great powers, but met her demise far too soon. She thought of her grandfather's story he told her and Ichigo just yesterday morning. The tale seemed false, but now, holding the weapon, she could almost feel the power radiating, wanting, making her believe every word he told her.
"Thank you Kagome, you can go inside now."
She looked up quickly, she realized she was in a trance and that she never even found the spot. Handing it over to him she said, "I didn't see that spot gramps."
He looked it over and frowned, "…I'm sure it was just there…"
Kagome believed him, even though he was getting up there in age, his eyes were better than hers at times.
"Oh well, looks fine now. Guess I'll just over it again to be sure anyway."
Kagome slowly made her way back to her home and went straight for her room.
"Oh. Um…Inuyasha?"
"We have trouble. Sango needs you." he said with a deadly serious expression.
This was the Inuyasha she fell for so long ago. "What happened Inuyasha?"
"It's Kohaku. Not what you think," he said seeing her face contort into instant worry that her sisters brother died, "He's holding himself and her hostage, until he speaks with you."
Kagome sighed, looked like she wouldn't even have the evening to get things settled, "Okay, can you help me pack then? I need to write some letters…"
He knew the drill, and went straight for the first aid box… "Inuyasha, just grab the whole box. I think we'll need it."
She sat down at her desk, that was supposed to be for her studies, and wrote letters to the school, her family, and finally to Ichigo. She trusted for her mother to have it delivered to him at the Kurosaki's medical clinic.
She then quickly went through the clothes her mom cleaned and put away for her while she was back in time. When this was all said and done, she owed her mother a full week at the spa or something. Kagome only hoped that her mother knew how grateful she was.
"Okay…let's go."
They jumped out of her window and were heading for the well house when she saw a purple pinkish light coming from the side….
(((00)))
He crossed him arms, "Look, I don't care okay! I won't betray her.""This is a matter of protecting the world as we know it! And you won't give us information that could save everyone?" yelled Hitsugaya.
"Not until I talk to her. She's coming to school in the morning tomorrow. I'll just make sure to get up early and meet her before she leaves her home."
"Childish…Issh…" started Uruhara started.
"Like I said, I would pay the same respect to the Soul Society." said Ichigo.
Uruhara couldn't believe he almost gave away Ichigo's father's secret!
"I can't believe this! One girl and you lose all sense of right and wrong!" said Renji.
"All I can say is that I really don't think he's a threat, at least not right now. But yeah, I did meet someone who went by that name. And before you ask.." he glared at Toshiro, "No. I will not say where!"
"Ichigo, you dumbass, only you would meet a miko!" Rukia taunted.
"Shut up!" he glared at her.
"Why didn't you just say that your project partner was the miko in the story?" she asked.
"Who said the girls were one in the same?" he countered, knowing he never gave that information.
"It's pretty damn obvious that the girl your all googly-eyed over is both the miko and project partner." stated Toshiro.
Another glare.
"You get defensive on both topics, you foolishly show your emotions too easily." interfered Byakuya.
"Regardless, I will speak with her before anything else is decided. Trust me, you'll want her opinion anyway."
"Whatever, we need to go Byakuya."
He nodded and they all said their farewells, with forcing Ichigo to promise contacting either Rukia or Renji on the status update with the miko.
(((00)))
It was the next morning and Kimi was reading her daughter's letter. Her Kagome, Kimi tried to wipe away some of the tears streaming down her face. She knew she would one day get this letter. A letter saying goodbye.
She sniffled as she re-read the letter, then searched for the letter addressed to Ichigo Kurosaki. Even though Kagome gave her permission to read the letter she wrote to the young man, she would respect her daughter's privacy.
Kagome left before Kimi could give her the news. The news that she found someone, someone that she wanted to spend the rest of her days with.
And that Kagome knew who he was.
But enough of that, she told Gramps to make sure that Souta got off to school on time, that she had to make a stop before she started her new job. She also told him that Kagome wouldn't be coming back for a while. She kept the part that she may not be coming back at all, to herself.
As she stepped out from her car, she noticed a presence behind her. Smiling softly, she turned and greeted her lover.
A/N: Not much for such a long time waiting for an update on this fic, but it is what it is. No need to list in the review of the huge delay, I know it took me forever. I'll list no reasons and/or excuses for slack. I can't believe it's almost been a year, so I apologize to those who still read it. I am still working on the next few chapters, I didn't realize the story was going to be this long! Thank you though, for still reading!