Okay, I finished another chapter. Yay me! I almost didn't have anything to put up today, but I know you would all be disappointed, so here it is.

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It was still dark when she woke. Sitting up, she swung her legs over the edge and stood up. Autumn was on the verge of turning into winter, and she could feel it in the air. Shivering, she put a blanket around her shoulders and lit a candle. When she held it up to the clock, she groaned. It's only three in the morning? No wonder it's so cold. But what am I doing up this early, and why don't I feel tired?

Something caused her to walk through the kitchen to the front hall. From there she stared at the door. Yes, she could hear a strong breeze blowing outside, but that wasn't why she just walked over the cold wooden floor to stare at her front door. It felt like something was compelling her to do this. Stepping through the open door, she closed it behind her and was hit by the gale-force winds. She clung to her blanket and tried to see through her watering eyes. At first, it looked like there was a round blob rising from the ground, but she blinked, and she saw it was a circular thing, but it was not touching the ground at all. For an instant, the wind abated, and she saw the thing clearly. It wasn't something she thought she'd ever see again. "Wise One!"

The Wise One gazed calmly at her. "It has been a long time, Kagome."

Around them, Kagome was vaguely aware of the wind still howling, but a barrier of quiet surrounded her and the Wise One. "So our paths did cross again."

"Yes, it has. I believe you are aware of the increase in monster activity around here."

She nodded. "They have been more aggressive lately, but as far as I know there haven't been any deaths because of them. Is that why you came to me after all these years?"

"In a way. There is a gate that they are coming from, and it needs to be shut."

"A gate?"

"Yes, a gate that leads to the underworld. That gate connects the two, and since it has been opened, the demons have been escaping to this world. So far only relatively weak demons have escaped, but soon the stronger ones will come, and this world will be overrun."

"So I have to close this gate?"

"Your assistance is needed, but you are unable to close the gate. That job belongs to someone else."

"So I'll meet this other person and then we're supposed to close the gate? What about Felix and my friends? I'm not just going to leave them."

"They are allowed to come."

"I take it that you want me to leave immediately?"

"It will be easier the sooner it is done."

"Okay then. Wait, what will I do with Jeremy and Kikyo? I can't leave them on their own."

"Why is that?"

"Jeremy hasn't gotten over his wife's death, and Kikyo's only nine years old."

"This is not a place where children will be safe. If you are that worried about them, ask one of your friends to look after them. They have children of their own, do they not?"

They won't be able to come, either. I forgot about that. I guess I could ask one of them to look after Jeremy and Kikyo. They do like them, so it wouldn't be an unreasonable thing to ask. "Okay, I'll ask. Where will I meet this other person?"

"She will meet you at the base of Venus Lighthouse." The Wise One faded.

"Well, that was sudden. I don't even know where I'm going after that, or what I'm supposed to do. It would've been nice if it'd given me more information, but no, that would've made this whole thing less confusing, and it couldn't have that now, could it?" Muttering under her breath, she went back inside, and as soon as she closed the door behind her, the wind started beating at it again.

When the others were up, Kagome still didn't know how to approach this. They ate breakfast, and Kagome mulled over how to tell them, but nothing was coming to her mind. After breakfast, Jeremy and Kikyo left to go visit one of Kikyo's cousins, which left Kagome alone with Felix. "Um, Felix?" He looked up from his book. She swallowed and continued. "This morning I saw the Wise One."

He froze. "Continue," he said. His voice was calm, but his body was tense.

"Apparently he isn't done with me. Have you noticed how the demons around here have been getting more aggressive?"

"Yes," he said slowly. "Why?"

"It said there's a gate that is allowing them to cross over into Weyard, and if it isn't closed, then even stronger demons will come."

"And you are the one that needs to close it."

She shook her head. "Actually, I'm not sure why I'm needed. It said that I'm not the one that needs to close the gate; someone else is. I'm supposed to meet her at the base of Venus Lighthouse."

"You won't be going by yourself," he said. "If you're going, then so am I."

Smiling, she sat down next to him. "I'm glad of that," she said. "Now we just need to find someone who will take care of Jeremy and Kikyo while we're gone."

"When were we supposed to leave?"

"I think today."

"That's very short notice, don't you think?"

"Yes, but it did say the sooner the better. Where are they right now?"

"I think they're over at Isaac's."

"Then let's go." They talked about what the Wise One might want them to do while they walked through Inuyasha's Forest to Isaac's home. When the house came into view, they saw Kikyo running around with Kiara and Kyle, and Jeremy was talking with Isaac and Mia, who was holding the three-year-old, Robin.

The three adults looked up as Kagome and Felix came into view. Felix walked over and engaged Jeremy in conversation, leaving Kagome free to talk to Isaac and Mia. Kagome took a deep breath. "Hey, guys," she said nervously. "Um, I have a big favor to ask of you."

Mia smiled at her. "Ask away," she said.

"Well, Felix and I are leaving for a little while, and we need someone to look after Jeremy and Kikyo. Could you do that for us?"

"You're leaving?" Isaac said, looking shocked. "I thought you refused to leave this place. You wouldn't even come see us when we still lived in Vale."

"I wasn't given a choice," she said. "It shouldn't take very long. Can you look after them for me?"

"Of course," Mia agreed. Isaac gazed at her as if he knew she wasn't telling them something, but he kept silent. "When are you leaving?" asked Mia, unaware of her husband's scrutiny of Kagome.

"Right as soon as we pack."

"That's pretty quick," Isaac said.

Kagome shrugged. "The decision was pretty quick, too. The sooner we leave, the sooner we can come back. Thank you for looking out for them. You don't know how much that means to us."

"Good luck with whatever you're doing," said Mia.

That taken care of, they packed quickly, said good-bye to Jeremy and Kikyo, and headed off to Lalivero. "Do you know when we have to be there?" Felix asked as they passed Vault.

Kagome shook her head. "It never said, but I get the feeling that it's supposed to be soon. I don't even know who we're supposed to be meeting."

"This will be interesting," Felix sighed.