LOL IK I POSTED THIS CHAPTER BUT I TOOK IT DOWN BECAUSE I WAS DEAD TIRED AND NOT THINKING PROPERLY SO EVERYTHING IS WEIRD AND DOESN'T REALLY MATCH AND MAKES NO GODDAMN SENSE LOLL

Previously:

Her face suddenly grew stony, she didn't deserve such peace, such beauty. This was a landscape of purity and enlightenment, yet here she stood, a revolting mistake on the gorgeous landscape. All her misdoings, all the death, everything was her fault. Everything led to her. She was a miko, someone of unrivaled purity, yet she was probably the dirtiest person alive; all she brought was death and devastation to the world around her. If it weren't for her existence, at any world, life would be abundant. She truly was a shi motarasu tenshi.

A long drag of air escaped her mouth, her long lashes gently brushing against her face.

Then she jumped.

Presently:

The wind tore at her clothing in her descent, nothing but earth to greet her down below. Kagome savored the feeling of free falling, never mind the fact that her stomach felt like it was in her chest or she couldn't truly catch her breath. She felt free, and that was something she never got to be. How many times had she dreamed of this feeling?

Up until 15 years of age, high expectations and demands are made, and a child is expected to be home before the streetlights come on. When extended family comes over, you are expected to present your talents and hold your tongue should one criticize you. Following that, more opportunities are presented such as jobs, as well as new types of relationships. But, at the age of 15 Kagome wasn't out partying and not giving a shit about school the next day. Nor was she dating or hanging out with friends her age. At 15, Kagome was saving the world. Responsibilities unrivaled to that of her peers were placed upon her shoulders, and even in this little taste of freedom, duty upon duty still weighed heavily upon her shoulders.

Kagome was the sheep of the Kami's. They needed her to be the guardian of the Shikon no Tama, which resulted in her getting little time to focus on her generous education or her needs as a young teenager and instead face the harsh realties of a past long since dead. They needed her to defeat a new evil, and Kagome was forced into a new world, with only two companions, no money, and no knowledge of this world. Whatever they wanted, she was forced to do. And one Kagome Higurashi was getting mighty sick of it.

So, without a care in the world, Kagome fell. She gave no thought to the impact sure to be made, nor did she frantically scramble for a way to stop her ongoing descent. Instead, Kagome just allowed herself to savor the sweet taste of freedom she'd just but a crumb of. Kagome was nearly soundless as her fall began to come to a close, the flapping of cloth and the wind pushing against her ears the only sounds she could hear.

Just before she hit the earth, barely an inch off the ground, did she teleport outside the door of the home of which they stayed. Brushing her hand through her hair, she did her best to make herself presentable, tugging her clothes into a fairly normal fashion. Without a moments hesitance, she entered the door and greeted everyone. How the day had flown by. It was already dinner time, and she hadn't trained.

With that thought, she decided that instead of tormenting herself with sleep, she would instead utilize that later time to hone in her abilities and keep them top notch. After all, she was a demon. Although they did need sleep, she'd slept yesterday as well as the day before! Sure, she hadn't slept over a two months beforehand, and she was truly reaching her limit, but who gave a shit? She didn't. As long as she wasn't plagued by her nightmares, she was perfectly fine being sleep deprived. Even better, in fact, as long as she was free of her nightmares.

Kagome silently sat at the table, not caring that night had come upon them so suddenly and that it was time for dinner. In fact, everyone had finished eating, and she was the last person to join everyone at the table. Just as she sat though, did Inari run off, shaking hands and tinted aura speaking of his emotional state, his mother running after him with blatant worry. No one paid her any mind, everyone focused on what had just occurred.

"What're you saying happened to Inari?" questioned Sakura, hoping to understand the cause of Inari's distress.

Tazuna sighed, eyes focused on Inari's previous spot as he began to speak, "Inari had a father, not related by blood, but the two of them got along so well that they might as well have been," he paused, sighing as he reminisced, "Back then, Inari was a child that laughed all the time. However, Inari's changed; ever since that incident with his father." Tazuna trembled, overcome with emotion. Tears trailed down his face as it turned grave, pain from the past resurfacing without restraint.

Tazuna then described the story Kaiza, a young man whose love was endless and pure and held a courage unfathomable. The man who had been called 'the hero of these lands'. Three years prior, Inari had been the victim of bullies, and had nearly lost his life to the waters that enclosed this land. A fisherman by the name of Kaiza had saved him, and had invoked an admiration within the young boy. Through Inari, Kaiza had easily found his way into the entire families hearts, as well as the towns following a horrid rainfall. It had been thick and hard, and a damn had broken that would have lead to the destruction of a section of the town, District D. He had risked his life for the town that day, and had earned the title as hero.

But, Gato had set his sights on the lands in the time following that incident. Not too long after did he kidnap Kaiza, and beat him to a nearly unrecognizable extent. The day after he had been placed on a crucifix for the town to see, a wire gate the only thing between the townspeople and their hero. His arms, which he had vowed to use to protect the village with, were a bright purple and had swollen nearly triple their original size. Had he survived, he would have lost his arms. Instead, Gato held an abrupt public execution, showcasing the man that had only given to the community, one of which he had not been birthed in. Inari had been present for it, and never was the same.

That night, once everyone had retreated to bed and the house was quiet with the soft sounds of slumber, Kagome slipped from the room and into the woods. Her head was filled with thoughts concerning the story that Tazuna had described, as well as her own past. Losing ones father was never easy. Kagomes own father had died in a car accident. She had been in the seat beside him. Through the crunched metal and the smoke, Kagome had held onto her father as he died, too weak to leave but strong enough to hold him. Seeing your father die was never a pleasant thing, and Kagome knew that Inari had been scarred from the event. She had been too, but time had eased the wound, and Inaris case was different.

Kagome trained through the night, never faltering in her efforts to grow stronger. Her movements never ceased even as the inky sky grew hued with pinks and purples, and the cool mist of night dispersed into the stale air of morning. She realized that she would have to return to Inari's home soon, if she were to appear as though she had been sleeping as the others had. With a slight huff, she allowed herself a moment to admire the beauty of the landscape around her, her mind filled with memories of a past unattainable.

Composing herself, she teleported outside of her shared bedroom, before easing into her futon. After the previous nights predicament, she had made it a point to move her futon next to that of Naruto. It was a win-win situation, as she was comforted by his presence, and she had no need to deal with the tiring awkwardness that remained between her and the Uchiha. Naruto profited as well, Kagome providing sturdy support to him and helping ease any of his worries. Besides, they were in all frank terms, pack. With her being a demon and Naruto housing one, they each found great comfort when in one another's company, such a relationship extended to the twins as well. Albeit, Kagome felt a bit like a mother when dealing with them at times, she loved them even if they served to irritate her.

Relationships such as these last through war and agony, death and blood.

Kagome just hoped it remained true when in separate worlds.

alrighty decided to hook y'all up with a little something something and yeah the last bit kinda is her reflecting on her previous 'pack' type situation. lol. yeaup, hope u enjoyed. FU over and out lol